1 B2 neutral
To suddenly and violently attack someone.
"She was set on by two men as she walked home from the station."
separable
set on
B2 neutral separable transitive
To attack someone suddenly, or to cause an animal or person to attack someone.
In plain English
To suddenly attack someone, or to make a person or animal attack someone else.
What does "set on" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To deliberately cause an animal or person to attack someone else.
"He threatened to set his dogs on anyone who trespassed on his land."
separable
Usage tip
Can be used both as a direct attack ('be set on by') or causative ('set the dog on him'). The passive form is particularly common.
Words that pair with "set on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
dog attackers thugs guards gang
How to conjugate "set on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
set on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sets on
he/she/it
Past simple
set on
yesterday
Past participle
set on
have + pp
-ing form
setting on
continuous
Hear "set on" in the wild
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Other ways to say "set on"
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ambush assault attack incite sic unleash
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