Meaning trap

set off

start a journey

to begin traveling to a place, especially after preparing to leave.

phrasal verbB1common

Don't mix these meanings

Same phrase, different job.

start a journey

to begin traveling to a place, especially after preparing to leave.

set off (trigger something)

Another meaning of 'set off' is 'trigger something'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

We set off early in the morning to avoid the traffic.travel
Last summer, my friends and I set off on a road trip across the country. We planned everything in advance and left just after sunrise.IELTS speaking

Pattern: set off (for/to [place])

WrongWe set off to the airport at 6.

RightWe set off for the airport at 6.

You set off FOR a destination (set off TO + verb is also fine: 'set off to find it').

Patternset off (for/to [place])

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff We will commence our journey at dawn.

Natural We'll set off at dawn.

'Set off' is the everyday verb for starting a trip; 'commence our journey' is archaic/formal.

Words that usually travel with it.

'Set off' focuses on the moment you begin traveling, not the journey itself.

set off (trigger something) — Another meaning of 'set off' is 'trigger something'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.