set the tone
idiom
: 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
Recent Examples on the Web
And the Tkachuk brothers set the tone by dropping the gloves.
—
Carol Schram, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Since those first meetings in the summer, Hepburn has set the tone in the locker room.
—Cj Moore, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
George Washington, who could have been a king, set the tone by abdicating after two terms, a precedent followed by all his successors until F.D.R., under wartime exigency, broke it.
—Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2025
Before the Oscars red carpet rolls out, all eyes are on the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards, whose winners during Sunday night's ceremony often set the tone for the rest of awards season.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for set the tone
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Carol Schram, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Since those first meetings in the summer, Hepburn has set the tone in the locker room.
—Cj Moore, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
George Washington, who could have been a king, set the tone by abdicating after two terms, a precedent followed by all his successors until F.D.R., under wartime exigency, broke it.
—Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2025
Before the Oscars red carpet rolls out, all eyes are on the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards, whose winners during Sunday night's ceremony often set the tone for the rest of awards season.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for set the tone
Cite this Entry
“Set the tone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set%20the%20tone. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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