Showing results for set an example. Search instead for deterrent+example.

set an example

Idioms

Also,. Behave in a way that should (or will) be imitated, as in Dad was always telling Bill to set a good example for his younger brother, or They were afraid of setting a bad example for the other nations. [Late 1700s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It may set an example for other strongmen too: Max is now available for download in dozens of countries allied with Moscow.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

To me, a Midwestern kid familiar with winter winds dragging their fangs across her face, Mary’s upright spine and sure gait set an example worth heeding.

From Salon • Jan. 31, 2026

California can set an example for them to follow.

From Slate • Jan. 16, 2026

He’s working with a local architect who lost his own home and trying to move forward to set an example for other residents unsure of the road ahead.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2025

“So you have to set an example so other people can use that field for soccer.”

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023