set-in
Americanadjective
verb
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to become established
the winter has set in
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(of wind) to blow or (of current) to move towards shore
adjective
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Insert, put in, as in I still have to set in the sleeves and then the sweater will be done . [Late 1300s]
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Begin to happen or become apparent, as in Darkness was setting in as I left . [c. 1700]
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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.
See Examples For:
“As a fisher that chases fish, it is really hard to go back to a set-in position just hoping the fish come to you. That’s a real adjustment.”
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 6, 2023
This technique might do the trick on its own, but it also doubles as a pre-treatment for set-in stains on removable cushion covers that need to head to the laundry room.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2022
Max Mara’s oversized camel Teddy Bear Icon wool faux-fur coat has a rich and luxurious vibe with lapels, low set-in sleeves, double-breasted two-button fastening and welt pockets. $3,990.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 29, 2018
Take note: Her knee-covering straight skirts delivered a precise fit, due to the set-in waistband and back center zipper in most styles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2015
The country is full of hopo-hedges, but the animals are harassed, and we never see them. 11th March, 1867..—Detained by a set-in rain.
From The Last Journals of David Livingstone, in Central Africa, from 1865 to His Death, Volume I (of 2), 1866-1868 by Waller, Horace
The number that funds America gets set in Tokyo on Thursday night, and you will see it at Friday’s U.S. market open.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
Still: Rigorous testing feels like a necessary inconvenience at a time when records set in doping eras continue to be shattered—not just by Pogacar and Vingegaard, but by other riders in the field.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
The adaptation of the Tony-award-winning musical blends two ancient Greek myths with themes of love and class struggle, set in the Depression-era world.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
He also equalled his personal best, which he set in winning gold at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, with the run at the Icahn Stadium in New York City.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
He was tall enough to scrape the door’s lintel, his slate-blue eyes set in a long, lean face.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
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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.