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
Leaders set the tone by asking about security and risk in every product review.
—
Aditya Patel, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Read on for the top takeaways that will help set the tone for the industry in the coming year.
—Pcmag Staff, PC Magazine, 24 May 2025
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has set the tone by assailing his former colleague Jennifer Griffin (Fox’s national security correspondent) and other journalists.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
This helps set the tone for the night, as participants are encouraged to take their time, have fun, and enjoy the experience without any pressure.
—Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for set the tone
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Aditya Patel, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Read on for the top takeaways that will help set the tone for the industry in the coming year.
—Pcmag Staff, PC Magazine, 24 May 2025
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has set the tone by assailing his former colleague Jennifer Griffin (Fox’s national security correspondent) and other journalists.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
This helps set the tone for the night, as participants are encouraged to take their time, have fun, and enjoy the experience without any pressure.
—Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 23 May 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 2 Jun. 2025.
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