1 B1 neutral
To delay or hinder the progress of something.
"The unexpected flooding set back construction of the new hospital by several months."
separable
set back
B1 neutral separable transitive
To delay progress or development, or to cost someone a specified amount of money.
In plain English
To make something happen later than planned, or to cost a lot of money.
What does "set back" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic informal
(Informal) To cost someone a specified amount of money.
"That new laptop set me back nearly a thousand pounds."
separable
Usage tip
The 'cost money' sense is informal and common in spoken English. The noun 'setback' (a delay or difficulty) is very widely used.
Words that pair with "set back"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
project plans recovery development years months
How to conjugate "set back"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
set back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sets back
he/she/it
Past simple
set back
yesterday
Past participle
set back
have + pp
-ing form
setting back
continuous
Hear "set back" in the wild
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Other ways to say "set back"
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