set on
Britishverb
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(preposition) to cause to attack
they set the dogs on him
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(adverb) to instigate or incite; urge
he set the child on to demand food
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Also, set upon.
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Attack; see set at .
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Instigate, urge one to engage in action, as in The older boys set on the young ones to get in trouble . [Early 1500s]
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. Be determined to, as in He's set on studying law .
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 house is set on a 7,645-square-foot lot with a swimming pool in the backyard and ample room for lounging.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
Ahead of the event, Pyrotecnico told AFP they were aiming to break the world record for the largest firework display, which was set on New Year's Day 2016 in the Philippines with around 810,000 fireworks.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
Pochettino has his sights set on taking the whole entire thing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
Now he is set on unmasking the caped crusader.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
I glance at the little digital alarm clock set on the nightstand between our beds; it’s two in the morning.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
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.
