atone

verb

ə-ˈtōn 

atoned; atoning

intransitive verb

: to make amends : to provide or serve as reparation or compensation for something bad or unwelcome

—usually + for

He wanted to atone for his sins.

But I think that he has within him a capacity for love, and an unselfishness, which almost atones for his dishonesty.

—Anthony Trollope

transitive verb

1

: to make reparation or supply satisfaction for : expiate

—used in the passive voice with for

a crime that must be atoned for

2

obsolete : reconcile

Did you know?

Atone has its roots in the idea of reconciliation and harmony. It grew out of the Middle English phrase at on meaning “in harmony,” a phrase echoed in current expressions like “feeling at one with nature.” When atone joined modern English in the 16th century, it meant “to reconcile,” and suggested the restoration of a peaceful and harmonious state between people or groups. Today, atone specifically implies addressing the damage—or disharmony—caused by one’s own behavior.

Synonyms

• expiate
• mend
• redeem

Examples of atone in a Sentence

tried to atone for forgetting their anniversary by giving his wife a truly extravagant gift

Recent Examples on the Web

Ah, Sober October – that alliterative time of year when some people like to take a break from drinking, perhaps to atone for the excesses of summer, or to prepare for the excesses of the holiday season. —Jeanne O'Brien Coffey, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

As Briony seeks to atone for her actions, the question remains who that apology is intended to serve. —Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2024

Yet what elevates the show, as EW’s critic points out, is its focus on gender relations and atoning for the sins of the past, adding layers of depth beyond its lurid plotting and somewhat ridiculousness. —EW.com, 30 Sep. 2024

The ad features a clip from a sermon by Billy Graham, calling on believers to atone for their sins. —Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, to become reconciled, from at on in harmony, from at + on one

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

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Kids Definition

atone

verb

ə-ˈtōn 

atoned; atoning

: to do something to make up for a wrong that has been done