set the tone

phrase

: to establish a quality, feeling, or attitude by a manner of speaking or writing
Her lighthearted question set the tone for the rest of the interview.

Examples of set the tone in a Sentence

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After the game, Skubal, who set the tone for the victory, returned to the field to catch up with his former teammates. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 Quarterback Jakayden Wright set the tone early, scoring on a touchdown run and adding a two-point conversion to give Eastern Hills an 8-0 lead within the first four minutes of the contest. — Raul Avila, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026 Harris, making just his eighth career appearance, set the tone by pitching two perfect innings with two strikeouts to record his second career hold. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026 The right rug can set the tone for your decor, protect your floors, and anchor your color scheme with accents that tie the entire space together. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for set the tone

Rhymes for set the tone

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Browse Nearby Words

set the stage
set the tone
set the wheels in motion
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Set the tone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set%20the%20tone. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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