set an example

Idioms  

1. Also,. Behave in a way that should (or will) be imitated, as in Dad was always telling Bill to set a good example for his younger brother, or They were afraid of setting a bad example for the other nations. [Late 1700s]

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Example Sentences

“The accolades were never the endgame. She wanted to put food on the table and set an example for her family and race,” said Andre Jones, one of her grandsons.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Instead, Glenn’s experiences set an example for her teammates.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

A century ago, Henry Ford set an example that other major industrialists would follow, when he cut working hours for staff in his car factories and adopted a 40-hour, five-day week.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

To me, a Midwestern kid familiar with winter winds dragging their fangs across her face, Mary’s upright spine and sure gait set an example worth heeding.

From Salon • Jan. 31, 2026

Groundsel, who felt that he ought to set an example, himself dug his way into the loose, fallen soil of one of the bank runs.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams