setback
gb/sˈɛtbˌæk/ us/sˈɛtbˌæk/
B1
Inglés
~ 9400
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Sustantivo
B1
event
1
problem that delays progress
A problem that makes it harder to move forward and that slows or stops your progress.
Patrón de uso:
[someone/something] suffers a setback in [activity/goal]
Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
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.)
Colocaciones
suffer a setback
|a major setback
|a serious setback
|a minor setback
|a temporary setback
|a financial setback
Temas
work
|business
|daily_life
|problems
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- Losing their main investor was a major setback for the startup.
- The team suffered a serious setback when their captain broke his leg.
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The rain was a big setback for our outdoor party.
- Failing the exam was a setback, but he decided to try again.
- 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.
Sustantivo
B2
event
2
worsening after health improvement
A time when someone's health gets worse again after it seemed to be getting better.
Patrón de uso:
[someone] suffers a setback in [their] recovery
Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
relapse (More medical and specific; often used for a return of an illness, especially chronic or serious conditions.)
Antónimos
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.)
Colocaciones
suffer a setback
|a setback in his recovery
|a serious setback
|a health setback
|a medical setback
Temas
health
|medicine
|problems
Ejemplos
- After several good weeks, the patient suffered a setback and had to return to the hospital.
- Any infection could be a serious setback to her recovery from surgery.
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- He had a setback and went back to the hospital.
- The fever was a small setback in her recovery.
- 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.
Sustantivo
technical
C1
relation
3
required distance from boundary
In building rules, the space that a house or building must be away from the street or the edge of the land.
Patrón de uso:
a setback of [distance] from [boundary]
Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
offset (Technical term in some fields for a measured distance from a line; less specific to legal building distances than "setback.")
Antónimos
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.)
Colocaciones
front setback
|rear setback
|side setback
|setback requirements
|setback line
|minimum setback
Temas
construction
|law
|urban_planning
|housing
Ejemplos
- Local regulations require a minimum front setback of five meters from the property line.
- Because of the narrow lot, they applied for a variance to reduce the side setback.
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The law says the house needs a five-meter setback from the road.
- They cannot build closer because the setback rules do not allow it.
- 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.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
setback
AFI
GB/sˈɛtbˌæk/
US/sˈɛtbˌæk/
Sílabas y acento
set - back (2 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (set)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: setback
- Plural: setbacks
Familia de palabras
Forms
setbacks
noun
Expresiones
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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.