1 B1 neutral
To place something you have been carrying onto a surface.
"He set down his briefcase and loosened his tie after the long journey."
separable
set down
B2 neutral separable transitive
To place something on a surface, to record something in writing, or to let a passenger out of a vehicle.
In plain English
To put something down on a surface, to write something down officially, or to let someone get out of a car or bus.
What does "set down" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 formal
To record or write something down, especially officially or formally.
"The conditions were clearly set down in the contract before either party signed."
separable
3 B2 neutral
To allow a passenger to get out of a vehicle at a particular place.
"The taxi driver set them down outside the main entrance to the hotel."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To place something in a lower position — extended to the idea of placing words on a page or a passenger on the ground.
Actually means
To put something down on a surface, to write something down officially, or to let someone get out of a car or bus.
Usage tip
The transport sense is used formally in British English (bus stops are often labelled 'set-down point'). The recording/writing sense is formal.
Words that pair with "set down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
rules conditions passenger bag guidelines terms
How to conjugate "set down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
set down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sets down
he/she/it
Past simple
set down
yesterday
Past participle
set down
have + pp
-ing form
setting down
continuous
Hear "set down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "set down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "set down"
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Keep exploring
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