set apart

verb

To select (something or someone) for a specific purpose.

Meanings

verbset apart (third-person singular simple present sets apart, present participle setting apart, simple past and past participle set apart)

present singular third person sets apart · participle present setting apart

  1. transitiveTo select (something or someone) for a specific purpose.

    Synonyms: appropriate

  2. transitiveTo distinguish, make obvious the distinction between (two things) or of (something).

    "This is a particularly good example of a timber railway station, with its Royal connection giving rise to some outstanding internal and external detailing. The swan-necked iron lamps, the porte-cochère and outstanding decoration in the Royal waiting room set the station apart."

    2022 June 29, Dr Joseph Brennan, “Wonderful waiting rooms on the waiting list”, in RAIL, number 960, pages 59–60
    1 more example

    It is one of the ironies of capital cities that each acts as a symbol of its nation, and yet few are even remotely representative of it. London has always set itself apart from the rest of Britain — but political, economic and social trends are conspiring to drive that wedge deeper.

    2013 September 28, Kenan Malik, “London Is Special, but Not That Special”, in New York Times, retrieved 28 Sep 2013

    Synonyms: discriminate

  3. transitiveUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: to separate or isolate.

    Synonyms: dedicate, distinguish, allocate, shelve, assign, detach, designate, earmark

  4. MormonismtransitiveTo perform a blessing which formally invests a person with authority to serve in a calling or leadership position, typically by laying on of hands.

    As I sat in fast and testimony meeting last week a sister in the congregation got up and talked about what it means to be set apart as a missionary..

    2009 November 8, Kristine Frederickson, “Remembering what 'set apart' means”, in Deseret News, Deseret News Publishing Co.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo select (something or someone) for a specific purpose.

verbTo distinguish, make obvious the distinction between (two things) or of (something).

More synonyms by meaning

verbselect something or someone for a specific purpose

verbset apart from others

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Bulgarian обособявам
  • обособявам (obosobjavam)To distinguish
Russian отлича́ть, отличи́ть
  • отлича́ть (otličátʹ)To distinguish
  • отличи́ть (otličítʹ)To distinguish
Cite this entry
APA

set apart. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20apart

MLA

“set apart.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20apart. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “set apart,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20apart.

Source: set apart on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.