set back
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The idea has sparked debate, the sources said, with some officials worried that a pause would set back the department’s efforts to hire more police officers and replenish its dwindling ranks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
The talks were set back recently when the two sides began fighting again for three days.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
Previously England have struggled to hit boundaries when the field was set back but the pair struck nine fours and two sixes despite coming together in the 17th over.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
The launch, originally planned for 2025, was set back by delivery delays from Boeing, which has suffered a series of manufacturing and safety problems in recent years.
From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026
Before Liberation only the wealthiest had lived here, in grand mansions set back from the street behind sturdy walls.
From "Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution" by Ji-li Jiang
