# set off

> English word · Verb

## Definitions
1. To leave; to set out; to begin a journey or trip.
2. To begin; to cause; to initiate.
3. To cause to explode, let off.
4. To put into an angry mood; to start (a person) ranting or sulking, etc.
5. To enhance by emphasizing differences.
6. To offset, to compensate for: to reduce the effect of, by having a contrary effect.
7. To deface or soil the next sheet; said of the ink on a freshly printed sheet, when another sheet comes in contact with it before it has had time to dry.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/set-off