phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb

set aside

to reserve for later

What it means

To reserve something — usually time, money, or space — for a particular purpose later. A second sense is to put a feeling or disagreement to one side temporarily; both senses are separable.

Examples

  • Try to set aside some money each month for emergencies.
  • I always set aside an hour in the morning for reading.
  • Let's set our differences aside and focus on finishing the project.
  • The library has set aside a quiet room for studying.

Where it comes from

From literal 'setting' (placing) something to one side, in figurative use since the 1500s. It has a slightly formal flavour but is still natural in everyday speech and writing.

Related phrasal verbs

#put away#put off#allow for#call off

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