set about

set about
verb
1. begin to deal with (Freq. 3)
-

approach a task

-

go about a difficult problem

-

approach a new project

• Syn: ↑go about, ↑approach
• Derivationally related forms: ↑approach (for: ↑approach)
• Hypernyms: ↑act, ↑move
• Hyponyms: ↑confront, ↑face up, ↑face
• Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s VERB-ing

2. enter upon an activity or enterprise (Freq. 1)
• Syn: ↑undertake, ↑attempt
• Derivationally related forms: ↑undertaking (for: ↑undertake)
• Hypernyms: ↑initiate, ↑pioneer
• Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s VERB-ing

3. take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
-

We began working at dawn

-

Who will start?

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Get working as soon as the sun rises!

-

The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia

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He began early in the day

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Let's get down to work now

• Syn:
↑get down, ↑begin, ↑get, ↑start out, ↑start, ↑set out, ↑commence
• Ant: ↑end (for: ↑begin)
• Derivationally related forms: ↑commencement (for: ↑commence), ↑start (for: ↑start), ↑starter (for: ↑start), ↑beginner (for: ↑begin), ↑beginning (for: ↑begin)
• Hyponyms:
• Verb Group: ↑begin
• Verb Frames:
-

Something ——s

-

Somebody ——s

-

Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s to INFINITIVE

-

Somebody ——s VERB-ing

-

They set about moving

* * *

1 Mike set about raising £5000: BEGIN, start, commence, go about, get to work on, get down to, embark on, tackle, address oneself to, undertake.
2 the youths set about him: ATTACK, assail, assault, hit, strike, beat, thrash, pummel, wallop, tear into, set upon, fall on; informal lay into, lace into, pitch into, let someone have it, do over, work over, rough up, knock about/around; Brit. informal duff up, have a go at; N. Amer. informal beat up on.
→ set

* * *

phrasal
1. : to begin to do or accomplish

had soon set about changing the flat tire

set about finding a track into the mountains — Francis Kingdon-Ward

Arab population suddenly set about smashing French shop windows — Claire Sterling

2. : to aim at doing : attempt

sets about moving the listeners to that position — R.M.Weaver

3. : attack

* * *

set about
1. To begin, take in hand
2. To attack
3. To spread (rumours)
• • •
Main Entry: ↑set

* * *

ˈset a ˌbout [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they set about he/she/it sets about present participle setting about past tense set about past participle set about] phrasal verb
to begin doing something, especially in a determined or enthusiastic way

She set about the problem with her usual energy.

set about doing something:

Donaghue set about resolving the problem of rehousing the victims.

Thesaurus: to start doing somethingsynonym
Main entry: set

* * *

1) start doing something with vigor or determination

it would be far better to admit the problem openly and set about tackling it

2) Brit., informal attack (someone)

* * *

set about [phrasal verb]
set about (something) : to begin to do (something)

They set about (the task of) creating a new Web site.

— sometimes followed by to + verb

They set about to create a new Web site.

• • •
Main Entry: ↑set

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Synonyms:
, , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

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