Phrasal verbs are an important feature of the English language. The meaning of a phrasal verb often bears no relation to the meaning of either the verb or the particle which is used with it. Many phrasal verbs have several different meanings.
Set apart (to use time for one purpose)
Susan likes to set apart a few hours each day to practise singing.
Set aside (if a court sets aside a previous judgment, it does not have any effect)
Marlon’s conviction was set aside by the Supreme Court.
Set back (if a building is set back, it is away from the road)
Bob’s house is set back from the main road so you cannot see it.
Set down (to record your thoughts and feelings)
Sometimes it helps to set down your thoughts in writing.
Set forth (to start a journey)
The pilgrims set forth at daybreak with their packs strapped to their backs.
Set in (if something unpleasant sets in, it is likely to continue)
The rain has set in for the rest of the day.
Set off (to start a journey)
I expect to set off tomorrow morning.
Set upon (to attack someone)
The minister was set upon by a mob as he left his residence.
Set out (to start a journey)
It was raining heavily when we set out.
Set to (to begin a fight)
The two men suddenly set to with fists and feet.
Set up (to start a company)
After graduation Rex set up a publishing company.
Settle down (to start living in a place where you intend to stay for a long time)
If I meet the right partner, I’ll settle down in Australia.
Settle for (to accept something which is not the best)
The workers demanded a 20 percent pay rise, but they settled for 10 percent.
Settle into (to begin to feel relaxed and happy in a new job)
It usually takes some time to get settled into a new job.
Settle on (to give money or property to someone)
A big sum of money had been settled on Martha’s grandchildren when she died.
Settle up (to pay someone the money you owe them)
You pay an advance now and we will settle up later.
Sew up (to repair something by sewing the edges together)
Can you sew up the hole in my shirt?
Shade in (to make part of a picture darker)
The child shaded in the background to make the figures stand out clearly.
Shake down (to become organised as a group that works successfully together)
The media unit has shaken down into an efficient organisation.
Shake off (to get rid of an illness or something that is causing you problems)
The actor said he wanted to shake off his bad-guy image.
Shake out (to hold something and move it up and down to get rid of dust)
Mother took an old sari from the cupboard and shook it out.
Shake up (to mix things in a container)
Shake up the bottle before taking the medicine.
Shape up (to develop or improve something)
Our new project is shaping up quite well.
Share out (to divide something into smaller parts)
Please see that the work is shared out equally.
Sharpen up (to improve something by working hard)
Daniel is taking a course in public speaking to sharpen up his oratorical skills.