Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

set about

/sɛt‿əˈbaʊt/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.53 in modern English

Syllables: set about
IPA: /sɛt‿əˈbaʊt/

10

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

1

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

Used with the adverb sense of about.

verb

Used with the adverb sense of about.

Transitive verb

verb

Used with the preposition sense of about.

Archaic; Transitive verb

verb

Used with the preposition sense of about.

Archaic; Transitive verb

verb

Used with the preposition sense of about.

British usage; Informal; Transitive verb

verb

Used with the preposition sense of about.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"For ſome vveeks before it [Parliament] met there vvas ſuch a number of Refugees coming over every day, vvho ſet about a moſt diſmal recital of the perſecution in France, and that in ſo many inſtances that vvere crying and odious, […]"
"[I]ndeede the whole island is a mount ascended by several terraces and walks all set about with orange and citron trees."
"Ascending the hill we came to St. Sabina, an ancient fabric, formerly sacred to Diana; there in a Chapel is an admirable picture, the work of Livia Fontana, set about with columns of alabaster, […]"
"Two youths set about him."
"He set about designing his homepage."
"She set about the task with a will."

Etymology

From set (verb) + about (adverb, preposition).

Word Breakdown

Root: *sed-

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /sɛt‿əˈbaʊt/
British English: /sɛt‿əˈbaʊt/

Usage

Inflected Forms

sets about (present, singular) setting about (participle, present) no-table-tags (table tags) glossary (inflection template) settest about (archaic, present) settest about (archaic, past) setteth about (archaic, present) - (imperative, past)

Synonyms

begin upon undertake embark on set to take in hand get down begin get start out start set out commence

Rhymes With

about out take out without term out throughout doubt peter out route fill out knock about shout

Questions

How do you pronounce set about?: The recorded pronunciation is /sɛt‿əˈbaʊt/.
What does set about mean?: Used with the adverb sense of about.
Where does set about come from?: From set (verb) + about (adverb, preposition).

How to pronounce set about

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “set about”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/sɛt‿əˈbaʊt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “set about”.
Repeat and practice — Say “set about” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.