set out
[verb]
Synonyms: design, arrange, lay out, map (out), plan, head, bear, light out, make, strike out, take off

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Related Idioms: set one's course for

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English Thesaurus: arrange, organize, order, classify, set out, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

set out phrasal verb (see also set)

1. to start a journey, especially a long journey
set out for
Kate set out for the house on the other side of the bay.
set out on a journey/drive/voyage etc
The band are setting out on a European tour in March.

2. to start doing something or making plans to do something in order to achieve a particular result
set out to do something
salesmen who deliberately set out to defraud customers
set out with the idea/purpose/intention etc of doing something
They set out with the aim of becoming the number one team in the league.

3. set something ↔ out to explain ideas, facts, or opinions in a clearly organized way, in writing or in a speech:
He set out the reasons for his decision in his report.

4. set something ↔ out to put a group of things down and arrange them:
The market traders began setting out their displays.

5. set out on something to start doing something, especially something new, difficult, or important:
My nephew is just setting out on a career in journalism.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

arrange to put things in a particular order or position:
I like the way you’ve arranged the room.
a group of numbers arranged in any order
organize to arrange things in order according to a system, so that they are more effective or easier to use:
The book is organized into three sections.
How is the equipment organized?
order to arrange a group of things so that one comes after the other in a particular order:
The books are ordered according to title.
classify to arrange things in groups, and give each group a title:
The towns were classified according to population size.
set out to arrange a group of things on the floor, on a table, on a shelf etc, ready to be used:
If we set out the chairs now, they’ll be ready for tonight’s meeting.
be laid out to be arranged according to a particular plan – used especially about cities, buildings, and pages:
Kyoto is laid out according to a grid system.
fix/fix up especially British English spoken to arrange something, especially for someone else:
John had fixed up for me to give a talk.
I’ve fixed an appointment for you at the doctor’s.
set a time/date (also fix a time/date British English) to arrange for something to happen at a particular time or on a particular day:
Have you set a date for the wedding yet?
We fixed a time for me to visit.
reserve/book to arrange to stay in a place, go to a theatre, travel on a plane etc:
I’ve booked the flight to Zurich.
He had reserved a table at the restaurant.
take care of/make the arrangements to arrange all the details of an event:
Uncle James is making all the funeral arrangements.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

explain to give someone the information they need to understand something:
She explained how to use the software.
Doctors usually explain the risks of the treatment to patients.
tell to explain something. People often use tell instead of explain in everyday conversation:
He told me how to get to his house.
The book tells you how to improve your health through diet.
show to explain to someone how to do something by doing it while they watch you:
Ellen showed me how to work the coffee maker.
demonstrate /ˈdemənstreɪt/ to explain to someone how to do something by doing it while they watch you, especially when it is part of your job:
The cabin crew demonstrated the safety procedures to the passengers.
A qualified instructor will demonstrate how to use the equipment properly.
go through something to explain something carefully, especially one step at a time:
Mrs. Riddell went through the homework assignment.
set out something to explain a series of ideas, reasons or opinions in an organized way in writing or in a speech:
In his speech, he intended to set out the party’s policies on education.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

start to begin doing something:
I’m starting a new job next week.
It’s time we started.
begin to start doing something. Begin is more formal than start, and is used especially in written English:
He began to speak.
The orchestra began playing.
Shall we begin?
commence formal to start doing something:
The company will commence drilling next week.
Work was commenced on the next power station.
get down to something to finally start doing something, especially your work:
Come on, Sam – it’s time you got down to some homework.
We’d better get down to business.
set off to start a journey:
What time do you have to set off in the morning?
I usually set off for work at about 8.30.
set out to start a long journey:
The ship set out from Portsmouth on July 12th.
embark on something especially written to start something, especially something new, difficult, or exciting:
The Law Society has embarked on a major programme of reform.
Jamaica was embarking on a decade of musical creativity.
resume formal to start doing something again after stopping it or being interrupted:
Normal train services will be resumed on April 5th.
Trade was resumed after the end of the war.
get cracking informal to start doing something or going somewhere:
I think we should get cracking straightaway.
start/begin to begin:
What time does the film start?
open to start being shown to the public – used about a play, show, or exhibition:
Lloyd Webber’s new musical opened in London last week.
A major exhibition of her work will open in New York in November.
get under way to start happening or being done – used especially about something that is likely to last a long time:
Construction work is getting under way on a new train network.
Discussions concerning the plan got under way on April 2.
break out to start happening – used especially about a fire, a fight, war, or a disease:
Police were called in when fighting broke out in the crowd.
The blaze broke out on the third floor of the hotel.
kick off informal to start – used especially about a football game or a meeting:
The match is due to kick off this afternoon at Wembley Stadium.
What time will the celebrations kick off?
a good/great start
A 3-0 win is a good start for the team.
a flying start (=a very good start)
The appeal got off to a flying start at the weekend when the group held a raffle.
a promising start (=a good start that makes success seem likely)
Her teacher says she's made a promising start in learning Spanish.
a bad/poor/disastrous start
Things got off to a bad start when two people turned up late.
a rocky/shaky start (=a rather bad start)
After a shaky start, they managed two wins in five matches.
a disappointing start
He accepted full responsibility for the club’s disappointing start to the season.
a slow start
Work got off to a very slow start because of bad weather.
an auspicious/inauspicious start (=one that makes it seem likely that something will be good or bad)
His second term in office has got off to an extremely inauspicious start.
an early/late start
It was long trip so we had planned an early start.
get off to a good/bad etc start
On your first day at work, you want to get off to a good start.
make a good/bad/early etc start
He made a flying start at college, but then he didn't manage to keep it up.
have a good/bad etc start
We’ve had a disappointing start but we are hoping to improve.
beginning the first part of something such as a story, event, or period of time:
The beginning of the movie is very violent.
Let’s go back to the beginning.
commencement formal the beginning of something – used especially in official contexts:
the commencement of the academic year
the commencement of the contract
origin the point from which something starts to exist:
He wrote a book about the origins of the universe.
The tradition has its origins in medieval times.
the onset of something the time when something bad begins, such as illness, old age, or cold weather:
the onset of winter
An active lifestyle can delay the onset of many diseases common to aging.
dawn literary the beginning of an important period of time in history:
People have worshipped gods since the dawn of civilization.
birth the beginning of something important that will change many people’s lives:
the birth of democracy in South Africa
the birth of the environmental movement

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

set out
set out (something)
1.
to give the details of or explain something, esp. in writing.
Your contract sets out the terms and conditions of your employment.

2.
to put something in a particular place.
The waiter cleared the table and set out silverware for their next course.

Put your trash in a garbage bag and set it out by the curb.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

set out something
set out (something)
1.
to give the details of or explain something, esp. in writing.
Your contract sets out the terms and conditions of your employment.

2.
to put something in a particular place.
The waiter cleared the table and set out silverware for their next course.

Put your trash in a garbage bag and set it out by the curb.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

set out
to leave on a journey
Marco Polo set out for China many years ago.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

set out
v.
1. To leave on a journey or voyage.
The Pilgrims set out for the New World.
Compare: SET FORTH², SET OFF⁴, START OUT.
2. To decide and begin to try; attempt.
George set out to improve his pitching.
3. To plant in the ground.
The gardener set out some tomato seedlings.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲