set a precedent

phrase

: to decide something that will be used as an example or rule to be followed in the future
The ruling in the case is likely to set a precedent for how future cases are decided.

Examples of set a precedent in a Sentence

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Tech companies are eager for vast tracts to build data centers that can be as large as 70 football fields, and Townsite could set a precedent for similar projects on federal property with more than a dozen others in the planning stages. — Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 The haughtiness and audacity of RHONY set a precedent for future cities, making the infamous season nine Gangster Lunch an obvious scene to recreate. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026 The courageous woman at the center of that series survived long enough to give a dying statement, in the hope that her testimony would set a precedent and make the world safer for others. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026 Some critics fear that would set a precedent for other countries to charge ships to pass through international waterways. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for set a precedent

Rhymes for set a precedent

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set apart
set a precedent
set a record
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Cite this Entry

“Set a precedent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set%20a%20precedent. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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