setback
gb/sˈɛtbˌæk/ us/sˈɛtbˌæk/
B1
English
~ 9400
visszaesés, akadály, csapás, állapotromlás, előírt beépítési távolság
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] suffers a setback in [activity/goal]
Losing their main investor was a major setback for the startup.
A fő befektetőjük elvesztése komoly visszaesést jelentett a startup számára.
The team suffered a serious setback when their captain broke his leg.
A csapatot komoly csapás érte, amikor a csapatkapitányuk eltörte a lábát.
Delays in getting permits have been a real setback to the construction project.
The failed test was a minor setback, but the overall research is still moving forward.
Her resignation is a significant setback to the company's expansion plans.
Learner examples
The rain was a big setback for our outdoor party.
Az eső nagy akadályt jelentett a szabadtéri bulink számára.
Failing the exam was a setback, but he decided to try again.
A sikertelen vizsga visszaesés volt, de úgy döntött, újra megpróbálja.
The car problem was a setback on our trip.
Losing his job was a serious setback for his family.
The injury was a temporary setback to her sports career.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "setback" with the verb phrase "set back" or the phrase "step back." "Setback" (one word) is a noun meaning a problem or delay in progress. "Set back" is usually a verb phrase (e.g., "The repairs set us back $200"), and "step back" means to move back or to pause and think about something.
Meaning
problem that delays progress
Collocations
suffer a setback
|a major setback
|a serious setback
|a minor setback
|a temporary setback
|a financial setback
Synonyms
hindrance (More general; anything that makes progress more difficult, not always sudden or unexpected.)
|
obstacle (Focuses on something that blocks progress; 'setback' often suggests progress has gone backwards.)
|
blow (More emotional and informal; often used when the setback is deeply disappointing.)
Antonyms
breakthrough (A sudden important advance that pushes progress forward instead of back.)
|
boost (Something that increases or helps progress, the opposite of holding it back.)
|
step forward (A movement or change in the direction of progress, not away from it.)
Themes
work
|business
|daily_life
|problems
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A problem that makes it harder to move forward and that slows or stops your progress.
An unexpected problem or difficulty that slows down, stops, or reverses progress toward a goal.
NOUN
B2
2
visszaesés
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] suffers a setback in [their] recovery
After several good weeks, the patient suffered a setback and had to return to the hospital.
Több jó hét után a betegnél visszaesés következett be, és vissza kellett kerülnie a kórházba.
Any infection could be a serious setback to her recovery from surgery.
Bármilyen fertőzés komoly visszaesést jelenthetne a műtét utáni felépülésében.
The doctor's report said there had been no setback in his condition overnight.
His latest test results were a setback, showing that the treatment was less effective than expected.
Catching the flu was a big setback for her cancer treatment schedule.
Learner examples
He had a setback and went back to the hospital.
Visszaesett, és visszakerült a kórházba.
The fever was a small setback in her recovery.
A láz kisebb visszaesést jelentett a felépülésében.
The doctor said there was no setback during the night.
Her cough is a setback to her getting better.
The new pain was a clear setback after the operation.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that this is still the same noun as the general "problem" meaning, but used in a medical context. In health news and reports, "setback" almost always means a worsening after improvement, not just any small problem.
Meaning
worsening after health improvement
Collocations
suffer a setback
|a setback in his recovery
|a serious setback
|a health setback
|a medical setback
Synonyms
relapse (More medical and specific; often used for a return of an illness, especially chronic or serious conditions.)
Antonyms
recovery (Describes the process of getting better, which a health setback interrupts or reverses.)
|
improvement (Refers to health getting better, the opposite direction of a setback.)
Themes
health
|medicine
|problems
Definition
A time when someone's health gets worse again after it seemed to be getting better.
A worsening or reversal in someone's health or recovery after a period of improvement.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
a setback of [distance] from [boundary]
Local regulations require a minimum front setback of five meters from the property line.
A helyi szabályozás legalább öt méteres utcafronti beépítési távolságot ír elő a telekhatártól.
Because of the narrow lot, they applied for a variance to reduce the side setback.
A keskeny telek miatt eltérési engedélyt kértek az oldalsó beépítési távolság csökkentésére.
The architect adjusted the design to meet the new setback requirements along the river.
The house does not comply with the current rear setback and will need modification.
A wider street setback was introduced to allow for future road expansion.
Learner examples
The law says the house needs a five-meter setback from the road.
A jogszabály szerint a házat legalább öt méterre kell elhelyezni az úttól.
They cannot build closer because the setback rules do not allow it.
Nem építhetnek közelebb, mert az előírt beépítési távolságra vonatkozó szabályok ezt nem engedik.
The architect checked the setback before drawing the plan.
The city increased the setback from the river.
Our garage is too close and does not meet the setback.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this technical sense is related to problems or delays. In construction and planning, "setback" is a neutral measurement or legal requirement, not a difficulty or failure.
Meaning
required distance from boundary
Collocations
front setback
|rear setback
|side setback
|setback requirements
|setback line
|minimum setback
Synonyms
offset (Technical term in some fields for a measured distance from a line; less specific to legal building distances than "setback.")
Antonyms
encroachment (In planning and law, a building that crosses into the setback area is said to encroach, going into space it is not allowed to use.)
Themes
construction
|law
|urban_planning
|housing
Definition
In building rules, the space that a house or building must be away from the street or the edge of the land.
In building and planning, the required minimum distance that a structure must be placed back from a street, property line, or other boundary.
Grammar
Dictionary form
setback
IPA
GB/sˈɛtbˌæk/
US/sˈɛtbˌæk/
Syllables & stress
set - back (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (set)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: setback
- Plural: setbacks
Word family
Forms
setbacks
noun
Expressions
a major setback
1/ə mˈeɪd͡ʒɚ sˈɛtbˌæk/
fixed phrase
a very serious delay or problem
A very big problem that strongly slows or stops progress.
Examples
- The loss of their main sponsor is a major setback for the team.
- The new regulations are a major setback to the project.
- His injury was a major setback to his Olympic hopes.
a minor setback
1/ə mˈaɪnɚ sˈɛtbˌæk/
fixed phrase
a small delay or problem
A small problem that slows progress a little, but does not stop it.
Examples
- The delay was only a minor setback and we soon caught up.
- Losing that game was a minor setback in an otherwise good season.
- The broken printer was a minor setback in finishing the report.
a temporary setback
1/ə tˈɛmpɚˌɛɹi sˈɛtbˌæk/
fixed phrase
a short-term delay or problem
A problem that slows progress for a short time but will not stop it in the long run.
Examples
- The CEO described the drop in sales as a temporary setback.
- The injury was a temporary setback, and she is now back in training.
- They see the failure as a temporary setback rather than a disaster.
financial setback
1/fɪnˈænʃəl sˈɛtbˌæk/
fixed phrase
a problem with money or income
A problem that makes a person or company lose money or have less money.
Examples
- Unexpected medical bills caused a serious financial setback for the family.
- The failed investment was a major financial setback for the firm.
- Losing his job was a big financial setback.
setback in recovery
1/sˈɛtbˌæk ˈɪn ɹɪkˈʌvɚi/
fixed phrase
worsening during a healing process
A time during recovery when the patient gets worse again instead of better.
Examples
- Doctors said he had suffered a setback in recovery after developing an infection.
- Any setback in recovery could keep her in the hospital longer.
- So far there has been no setback in recovery since the operation.
suffer a setback
1/sˈʌfɚ ə sˈɛtbˌæk/
fixed phrase
to experience a problem or delay
To have a problem that slows or stops your progress toward a goal.
Examples
- The company suffered a setback when its new product failed to sell.
- She suffered a setback in her career after the scandal.
- The team suffered a setback early in the season but later recovered.