to cause a situation or a series of events to happen, especially without intending to
Example: He fears that the election could set off mass protests.
to cause something to operate, especially by accident
Example: Her plain blue dress was set off by a feather-trimmed hat.
to make someone or something look more attractive by being clearly different from them
Example: Jeff pushed open the front door, which set off the alarm.
to make someone start to laugh, cry, or talk a lot
Example: Just mentioning her father’s death could set her off again.
to make something explode
Example: Raskin set off at a brisk pace, almost trotting down the wide Steps.
to start a journey, or to start going in a particular direction
Example: She rang the door bell, which set off savage barking from all over the house.
complementenhanceshow offthrow into relief
