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Synonyms

set on

British  

verb

  1. (preposition) to cause to attack

    they set the dogs on him

  2. (adverb) to instigate or incite; urge

    he set the child on to demand food
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
set on Idioms  

  1. Also, set upon.

  2. Attack; see set at .

  3. Instigate, urge one to engage in action, as in The older boys set on the young ones to get in trouble . [Early 1500s]

  4. . 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 company is also set to surpass its own market-cap record of $501.51 billion that was set on Aug. 31, 2000.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

A break below $83.30 would bring the next intraday low of $83.24, set on Oct.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

In the 1980s, Niall's path is set on a lifelong collision course with Ruben, his "brother from another lover", brought to life in his younger years by Stuart Campbell.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

The director was reportedly set on posting a photo of himself and agents on social media, even though some of the British agents who were photographed work undercover.

From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026

I am dragged upward and set on my feet.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

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.