set off
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle off
Meanings
Begin a journey
Why “off”? The whole object launches away from where it stood.
“They set off before sunrise.”
“We set off for the coast after breakfast.”
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“They set off before sunrise.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
set out
A contrast learners often mix up
Begin a journey; Begin trying to do something with a clear goal
set up
A contrast learners often mix up
Establish or arrange
blast off
Same off pattern: departure
Launch into the sky with great force
clear off
Same off pattern: departure
Leave a place quickly, often when told to; Remove items from a surface; Pay off a debt completely
dash off
Same off pattern: departure
Leave in a great hurry
drive off
Same off pattern: departure
Leave by car; Force back by attacking
drop off
Same off pattern: departure
Take and leave someone or something at a location; Fall asleep, often unintentionally; Decrease in number, level or amount; Detach and fall away from something
fire off
Same off pattern: departure
Send a message quickly and forcefully
Tell it apart
Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “set off”.
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