How to Use set the stage in a Sentence

set the stage

phrase
  • All of that pregame commotion set the stage for what came next.
    — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • War, chaos and other kings set the stage for this new Norse saga.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
  • There are laughs, genuine scares and a bar, all setting the stage for a good time.
    — Benjamin Carr, AJC.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • That set the stage for the defensive stand on the final drive.
    — Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • But that was just the hockey gods setting the stage for pure bedlam.
    — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 12 June 2026
  • The groom-to-be set the stage with a long pathway lined with candles and white flowers.
    — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But the drought that set the stage for the fires has dried up Baltzor's hay meadows, too.
    — Anna King, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The strength of the quarter set the stage for management to boost full-year guidance.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Let’s back up a moment first, to set the stage before Collier walks out on it.
    — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Now, the secretary of state’s rejection sets the stage for a race against the clock.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026
  • That would set the stage for a faster build-out if Ryman does decide to move forward at some point.
    — Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2026
  • That twist of fate set the stage for a childhood unfolding across three continents.
    — Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The skinification of body care set the stage Body care used to mean lotion.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Sep. 2026
  • How do the revelations about Ashton’s death set the stage for the next chapter?
    — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Is that rhetoric about setting the stage for federal intervention in the midterms?
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 July 2026
  • Steady effort sets the stage for bigger wins without needing a big performance.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2026
  • The good news is that bullish sentiment is finally starting to wash out, which should set the stage for a year-end rally.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026
  • This sets the stage for a likely miss on the consensus for gross margin expectations.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 29 June 2026
  • Much of the country has seen dry, hot conditions this year, setting the stage for an active wildfire season.
    — Simmone Shah, Time, 27 July 2026
  • That could set the stage for weeks or even months of negotiations among around a dozen parties expected to win seats.
    — Josef Federman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Prior to the event’s official opening this morning, two important events set the stage for a big week.
    — Katie Abel, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • With beds for ten, this former 1860s church sets the stage for an atmospheric fall trip with friends.
    — Madeline Weinfield, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Which set the stage for those video game numbers, an epic ending and a family, full of belief, ready to celebrate.
    — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • The decision set the stage for possible legal challenges no matter who wins.
    — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • His father and his older brother, each named Josh, helped set the stage for his varsity debut.
    — Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
  • That’s when someone from the crew scurried onstage, presumably to take away the microphones and set the stage for the next act.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2026
  • Cramer said recent weakness in bank stocks could set the stage for a rally if results exceed expectations.
    — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Fans have been eager for updates about season three after the season two finale set the stage for major star arcs to advance.
    — David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The justices struck down the trade penalties and set the stage for the federal government to pay refunds to importers.
    — Paul Wiseman, Arkansas Online, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Rhyne Howard's three-pointer with 25 seconds to play cut the deficit to one and set the stage for Gray's heroics.
    — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 30 July 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'set the stage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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