experience a setback

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "experience a setback" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation where someone faces an obstacle or difficulty that hinders progress. Example: "After months of hard work, the team had to experience a setback when the funding was unexpectedly cut."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sports

General Usage

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Dr. Olgin said that, for now, it was difficult to know when someone with heart failure was going to experience a setback.

The New York Times

The older players have preached to him that it is better to heal completely, rather than rush and experience a setback.

The New York Times - Sports

But the Guardian understands from members of the government and from prominent backbenchers that there is a growing belief that enough MPs are prepared to trigger a vote of confidence in the prime minister in the summer of 2014 if the Tories experience a setback in the local elections.

The Guardian

At the midpoint of every movie ever made, the main characters always experience a setback.

Vice

It would seem to reflect the long-term burden of psychosocial trials which individuals face as they grow older: they may be afraid, often on an unconscious level, that the disease will recur, they may experience a setback resulting from the stresses during treatment or they can be confronted with new problems evolving from the illness or long-term side effects of treatment [ 46].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Since he first strained his right hamstring March 14, Reyes has experienced a setback every few weeks.

The New York Times - Sports

Russia also experienced a setback this week when one of the army commanders of its Grozny operation, Maj.

The New York Times

The party experienced a setback in 2005 when Rainsy fled the country before being convicted of criminal defamation against Hun Sen and Prince Ranariddh.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He was in line to become the closer, and still may, but he experienced a setback last week when he had back spasms.

The New York Times - Sports

The company experienced a setback last year when 4.2 million units of one Spin Master toy, Aqua Dots, were recalled because they contained a glue that turned toxic when ingested.

The New York Times

Jeff Keppinger, a long shot to win the second-base job, experienced a setback Sunday when he left camp with back spasms.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "experience a setback" to describe a temporary halt or reversal in progress, especially when the overall goal remains achievable.

Common error

Avoid using "experience a setback" for trivial issues. Reserve it for situations where progress is significantly hampered or reversed. Consider using words such as "inconvenience" or "hiccup" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "experience a setback" functions as a verb phrase indicating that someone or something has encountered difficulties that have hindered their progress. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is used to describe encountering obstacles or difficulties that impede forward movement.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "experience a setback" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe encountering difficulties that hinder progress. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides examples across various domains, most frequently in news and media. While suitable for general use, it's best reserved for situations where actual progress is demonstrably impeded. Related phrases, such as "suffer a reversal" or "encounter a hitch", can provide alternative nuances depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suffer a reversal

Emphasizes a change to an opposite direction or outcome.

face an obstacle

Highlights the presence of a barrier that needs to be overcome.

encounter a hitch

Highlights a minor, unexpected problem causing a temporary delay.

hit a snag

Describes encountering an unexpected or hidden obstacle.

meet with adversity

Focuses on facing challenging or unfavorable circumstances.

endure a difficulty

Stresses the act of bearing or tolerating a hardship.

undergo a regression

Implies a return to a previous, less developed state.

be thwarted

Emphasizes the prevention of achieving a desired outcome.

sustain a blow

Suggests a damaging or shocking event that causes harm.

fall back

Describes a retreat or regression from a previously held position.

FAQs

How can I use "experience a setback" in a sentence?

You can use "experience a setback" to describe a situation where progress is temporarily halted or reversed. For example: "The project "experienced a setback" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What can I say instead of "experience a setback"?

You can use alternatives like "suffer a reversal", "encounter a hitch", or "face an obstacle depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to use "experience a setback" or "suffer a setback"?

Both "experience a setback" and "suffer a setback" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably. "Experience a setback" is slightly more neutral, while "suffer a setback" emphasizes the negative impact of the event.

What's the difference between "experience a setback" and "encounter a challenge"?

"Experience a setback" implies a disruption or reversal of progress, whereas "encounter a challenge" refers to facing a difficult but potentially surmountable obstacle. A challenge doesn't necessarily mean progress is stopped, but a setback typically does.