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
Leadership must set the tone by prioritizing security as a fundamental business value rather than a compliance checkbox.
—
Francis Dinha, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
These earnings may also help set the tone for Q2 investor sentiment.
—Catherine Baab, Quartz, 9 Apr. 2025
The 18-year-old shortstop went 2-for-4 with two runs scored on Friday, helping to set the tone in high Single-A Fort Wayne’s 5-0 win over visiting Lansing in its opener.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
Barrett's opinion—whether concurring or dissenting—could set the tone for how future cases define religious liberty.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for set the tone
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Francis Dinha, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
These earnings may also help set the tone for Q2 investor sentiment.
—Catherine Baab, Quartz, 9 Apr. 2025
The 18-year-old shortstop went 2-for-4 with two runs scored on Friday, helping to set the tone in high Single-A Fort Wayne’s 5-0 win over visiting Lansing in its opener.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
Barrett's opinion—whether concurring or dissenting—could set the tone for how future cases define religious liberty.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 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 15 Apr. 2025.
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