set back
Third Person
sets back
Present Participle
setting back
Past Tense
set back
Past Participle
set back
1
to cause a decline in the quality, strength, or advancement of something
- A cyberattack can set back a company's advanced technological systems, compromising their security and functionality.
- A financial crisis can set back a country's economy, leading to a reduction in GDP and overall economic strength.
- The spread of a contagious disease can set back public health, leading to a weaker and less resilient healthcare system.
- Pollution and deforestation can set back the ecological balance of an area, reducing biodiversity and ecosystem health.
2
to cause a delay in the progress of something or someone
- The unexpected rainstorm set our picnic back to next weekend.
- We had to set the meeting back by an hour due to a scheduling conflict.
- Can we set the movie night back to Friday instead of Thursday?
- She had to set back her vacation plans because of a family emergency.
- The technical issues with the website set back the launch date by a week.
3
to require someone to spend a specific amount of money
- The car repair set me back $500.
- Don't let this shopping spree set you back too much.
- The new computer I bought set me back a pretty penny.
- The wedding expenses have set the couple back, but they believe it's worth it.
- Her extravagant shopping spree set her savings account back by a few hundred dollars.
Synonyms:
4
to position something, particularly a structure, at a distance from something else
- The architect plans to set the house back from the road to create a spacious front yard.
- He decided to set the new office building back from the street for a more impressive entrance.
- The city's zoning regulations require builders to set structures back from the property line.
- We will set the playground equipment back from the sidewalk to ensure safety for children.
- The homeowner was advised to set the swimming pool back from the house for privacy reasons.