set-in
adjective
made separately and placed within another unit.
set-in
American
[set-in]
/ ˈsɛtˌɪn /
adjective
set in
British
verb
-
to become established
the winter has set in
-
(of wind) to blow or (of current) to move towards shore
adjective
set in
Idioms
-
Insert, put in, as in I still have to set in the sleeves and then the sweater will be done . [Late 1300s]
-
Begin to happen or become apparent, as in Darkness was setting in as I left . [c. 1700]
-
Move toward the shore, said of wind or water, as in The tide sets in very quickly here . [Early 1700s]
Etymology
Origin of set-in
First recorded in 1525–35; adj. use of verb phrase set in
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The previous record for American painter Pollock was $61.2 million, set in 2021.
From Barron's • May 19, 2026
As well as being filmed and set in Wales, the Welsh language is also woven into the show.
From BBC • May 19, 2026
Faculty voted to require proctoring in all in-person exams starting this summer, reversing a policy set in place in 1893.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
His latest adapts Peter Heller’s 2012 novel set in the aftermath of a pandemic that’s nearly wiped out humanity.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026
In English, we’re reading some boring old book, by some boring old dude, set in some boring old time period.
From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
