1 B2 idiomatic neutral
To cause someone to oppose or become hostile to something or someone.
"The campaign deliberately set local residents against the new development."
separable
set against
B2 neutral separable transitive
To cause someone to oppose something, to offset one thing against another (financial), or to consider one thing in contrast to another.
In plain English
To make someone dislike or oppose something, or to balance one thing against another when calculating costs.
What does "set against" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To offset or deduct one amount against another, especially for tax purposes.
"You can set business expenses against your taxable income."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
To view or present something in contrast to a background or opposing idea.
"The beauty of the landscape seems even more striking when set against the poverty of the villages."
separable
Usage tip
The financial sense (offsetting costs) is common in accounting and taxation. The 'cause to oppose' sense is common in narrative and analytical writing.
Words that pair with "set against"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
backdrop costs losses profits each other tax
How to conjugate "set against"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
set against
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sets against
he/she/it
Past simple
set against
yesterday
Past participle
set against
have + pp
-ing form
setting against
continuous
Hear "set against" in the wild
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Other ways to say "set against"
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