setting aside

phrase

present participle of set aside
1
as in dedicating
to keep or intend for a special purpose He set aside $100 a month for a down payment on a car.

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2
as in abolishing
to put an end to by formal action The company set aside the old strict dress code and allowed employees to dress a little more casually.

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3
as in dumping
to get rid of as useless or unwanted The professional organizer helped us set aside anything we didn't need or want anymore.

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4
as in storing
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place She set aside her wedding dress in case her own daughter might want to wear it some day.

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of setting aside Yet data consistently shows setting aside a meaningful amount of cash to turn to when the unexpected happens is difficult for many individuals. — Lorie Konish, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026 The National Association of Corporate Directors reported that more than 62% of public-company director respondents were setting aside agenda time for full-board AI discussions. — Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Even setting aside Bobby’s issues with timing, her design aesthetic doesn’t seem the same. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2026 Experts suggest setting aside a minimum of between 25% and 35% of the home's total cost for the down payment, closing costs and moving expenses. — Deane Biermeier, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026 Other practical steps include helping teens face anxious situations in small manageable steps, showing consistent compassion, setting aside distraction-free time each day and supporting nutritious meals, regular activity and steady sleep. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026 His wife, Penélope Cruz, was also there, as was the Catalan singer-songwriter Rosalía, rounding out the trio of the three most internationally renowned Spaniards at the moment (setting aside the soccer players, of course). — Juan Claudio Matossian, Vanity Fair, 19 July 2026 The plan also reads a bit like a fairy tale in which world leadership suddenly comes together, setting aside politics, personal interest, and greed for the sake of humanity. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 10 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setting aside
  1. doing away with
  2. disposing of
Phrase
  • For Galdiano, doing away with the infrastructure completely was a worst-case scenario.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The change does not mean Publix is doing away with express checkout altogether.
    — Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of doing away with
Phrase
  • That work has included disposing of most of the furniture that was in the building and removing old ceiling tiles as part of abatement efforts, Tomlinson said.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The boyfriend of an 18-year-old college soccer player in Washington County, Pennsylvania, is accused of fatally stabbing her, putting her body in the hatch of her vehicle and recruiting his mother for help disposing of the body, authorities said.
    — Michael Guise, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of disposing of

Browse Nearby Words

setting apart
setting aside
setting at
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Cite this Entry

“Setting aside.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setting%20aside. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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