Akademik

set back
verb
1. hold back to a later time (Freq. 1)
-

let's postpone the exam

• Syn:
↑postpone, ↑prorogue, ↑hold over, ↑put over, ↑table, ↑shelve, ↑defer, ↑remit, ↑put off
• Derivationally related forms:
↑putoff (for: ↑put off), ↑deferment (for: ↑defer), ↑deferral (for: ↑defer), ↑shelver (for: ↑shelve), ↑prorogation (for: ↑prorogue), ↑postponement (for: ↑postpone), ↑postponer (for: ↑postpone)
• Hypernyms: ↑delay
• Hyponyms: ↑call, ↑hold, ↑suspend, ↑probate, ↑reprieve, ↑respite
• Entailment: ↑cancel, ↑call off, ↑scratch, ↑scrub, ↑reschedule
• Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s something PP

2. slow down the progress of; hinder (Freq. 1)
-

His late start set him back

• Derivationally related forms: ↑setback
• Hypernyms: ↑impede, ↑hinder
• Verb Frames:
-

Something ——s somebody

3. cost a certain amount
-

My daughter's wedding set me back $20,000

• Syn: ↑knock back, ↑put back
• Hypernyms: ↑cost, ↑be
• Verb Frames:
-

Something ——s somebody

* * *

set back [phrasal verb]
1 set (something or someone) back or set back (something or someone) : to make the progress of (something or someone) slower or more difficult : to cause (something or someone) to go back to an earlier or worse condition

A recent lack of funding has set back research on the disease.

If the law is reversed, it will set us back 20 years. [=it will undo 20 years of progress]

setting back progress

2 set (someone) back informal : ↑cost, 2

A new suit will set you back at least $200.

• • •
Main Entry: ↑set

Useful english dictionary. 2012.