If a characteristic sets you apart from other people, it makes you different from the others in a noticeable way. What sets it apart from hundreds of similar small French towns is the huge factory Li blends right into the crowd of teenagers. Only his accent sets him apart
[ 'set ] (verb.) before 12th century. Middle English setten, from Old English settan; akin to Old High German sezzen to set, Old English sittan to sit.