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• set off
  set off

  verb

  (intr) to embark on a journey
• set-off
  set-off

  noun

  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

set off

¹ British  

verb

1. (intr) to embark on a journey

2. (tr) to cause (a person) to act or do something, such as laugh or tell stories

3. (tr) to cause to explode

4. (tr) to act as a foil or contrast to, esp so as to improve

   that brooch sets your dress off well

5. (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

6. (intr) to bring a claim by way of setoff

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noun

1. anything that serves as a counterbalance

2. anything that serves to contrast with or enhance something else; foil

3. another name for setback See set back

4. a counterbalancing debt or claim offered by a debtor against a creditor

5. a cross claim brought by a debtor that partly offsets the creditor's claim See also counterclaim

set-off ² British  

noun

1. 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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set off Idioms  

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

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

3. 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]

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

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

set off set-off

Karl set off from Chile, heading back home to Hull, with two self-imposed rules: he cannot use transport to advance and he cannot return to the UK until the walk is complete.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

Researchers and industry experts believe the first company to master it could set off an exponential cycle of progress, pulling so far ahead that competitors can no longer catch up.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026

There’s no such thing, and should set off a huge alarm bell.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026

The attacks set off raging fires at some of the warehouse complexes, imperiling the businesses of thousands of third-party vendors who sell goods over the popular online platforms.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026

Of the two thousand or so each year that are strong enough to be felt, most are small tremors, which do little more than rattle dishes and set off car alarms.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

In the first quarter of next year the one millionth all-electric car will set-off on UK roads, according to Schmidt Automotive Research.

From BBC ● Dec. 21, 2023

Purists will appreciate that every page of the comics was scanned and enlarged from originals, retaining original printing errors, poor registration and ink set-off that appear in early comics to give a feeling of authenticity.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 6, 2019

Historically, Guinea-Bissau has been popular set-off point for migrants hoping to make it to Europe.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2018

Oliver exclaimed to set-off a dedicated segment of his HBO show "Last Week Tonight" on Sunday.

From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2018

Our horses were in waiting: poor animals! they had no intellectual set-off to solid ill fare that they met with; but, unrid of the previous day’s mire, proceeded with us on the road to Pembroke. 

From A Tour throughout South Wales and Monmouthshire by J. T. Barber

Related Words

• add to
• aggravate
• boost
• build up
• deepen
• enhance
• escalate
• exacerbate
• heat up
• heighten
• increase
• quicken
• raise
• redouble
• reinforce
• sharpen
• step up
• strengthen