View synonyms for set off

set off

verb

(intr) to embark on a journey
(tr) to cause (a person) to act or do something, such as laugh or tell stories
(tr) to cause to explode
(tr) to act as a foil or contrast to, esp so as to improve
that brooch sets your dress off well
(tr) accounting to cancel a credit on (one account) against a debit on another, both of which are in the name of the same person, enterprise, etc
(intr) to bring a claim by way of setoff

noun

anything that serves as a counterbalance
anything that serves to contrast with or enhance something else; foil
another name for setback See set back
a counterbalancing debt or claim offered by a debtor against a creditor
a cross claim brought by a debtor that partly offsets the creditor's claim See also counterclaim

set-off

noun

Also called (esp Brit): offset. printing a fault in which ink is transferred from a heavily inked or undried printed sheet to the sheet next to it in a pile

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Idioms and Phrases

Give rise to, cause to occur, as in The acid set off a chemical reaction . [Early 1600s]

Cause to explode, as in They set off a bomb . [Late 1800s]

Distinguish, show to be different, contrast with, as in That black coat sets him off from the others in the picture , or Italics set this sentence off from the rest of the text . [Late 1500s]

Enhance, make more attractive, as in That color sets off her blonde hair . [Early 1600s]

Begin a journey, leave, as in When do you set off for Europe? [Second half of 1700s]

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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.

A hastily agreed sale to Swiss trading firm Gunvor was spiked by the Treasury Department, setting off a scramble among other energy companies and investors to buy the potentially lucrative assets.

Related Words

setoff seton

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