phrasal verb

set off

set OF

Set off (phrasal verb) means to begin a journey or start out towards somewhere. Example: “We set off at dawn to beat the traffic.”

phrasal verb

To begin a journey or start out towards somewhere.

"We set off at dawn to beat the traffic."

"They set off on foot for the next village."

To cause something to start suddenly, especially an alarm, an explosion or a chain of events.

"The smoke from the toaster set off the fire alarm."

"One arrest set off three nights of unrest."

To make someone suddenly angry, upset or distressed, or to trigger a strong emotional or physical reaction.

"Any mention of the divorce sets him off."

"Strong perfume sets off her migraines."

To make something look better by contrast or by providing a background for it.

"The plain frame sets off the painting perfectly."

"A green scarf would set off her eyes."

noun

legal and accounting An amount owed by one party that is deducted from a debt owed to it by the other, so only the balance is paid.

"The builder claimed a set-off for the unpaid final invoice."

How to use set off

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo start a journey, or to make something suddenly happen.

When to use it

Neutral and very common in everyday speech; the accounting noun is technical.

Memory tip

With an object the parts can split: it set the alarm off.

Easily confused with

set out set up offset →

Common pairings

set off early set off the alarm set off a chain reaction set off a bomb

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

We _____ at dawn to beat the traffic.

Synonyms

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depart start out head off leave get going trigger spark detonate touch off provoke upset start off

Antonyms

arrive stay return calm soothe

Related words

go still part come leave stay return die

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between set off and set out?

Both can mean to begin a journey, and there they are interchangeable, though set off suggests the moment of departure and set out the undertaking as a whole. Set out has extra meanings set off does not: to arrange things, and to state something clearly, as in the contract sets out the terms.

Is it set off or setoff?

The verb is always two words: they set off early. The noun is hyphenated in British usage as set-off and often closed up in American accounting as setoff.

What is the past tense of set off?

Set off. Set does not change form, so we set off yesterday and we have set off already are both correct.

What is the meaning of set off?

"set off" (phrasal verb) means to begin a journey or start out towards somewhere.

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