phrasal verb · neutral
set back
/sɛt bæk/SET·back
1) to delay progress or cause something to happen later than planned; 2) to cost (an amount of money)
Examples
“The pandemic set back the construction by six months.”
“The repairs set them back about $2,000.”
“A lack of funding set the project back significantly.”
Band 8 sentence
“While minor setbacks are inevitable, transparent budgeting can prevent circumstances that would set a project back for months.”
Collocations
- set back the project / set back by six months / set them back $1000
Word family
Common mistakes
The repairs set back about $2000.→The repairs set them back about $2,000.
The pandemic set back six months the construction.→The pandemic set the construction back by six months.
Say it for a higher band
5delay→6postpone→7+set back
Synonyms
delay
postpone
Easily confused
set back vs setback
“Construction setbacks delayed the opening, which set the whole plan back.”
set back vs hold back
“Financial issues held back the team while supply shortages set the project back months.”
Related words
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In set …
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