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.

Examples of atone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Also, Houston on its Senior Day obviously would like to atone for a 78-65 loss to the Jayhawks on Feb. 3 at Allen Fieldhouse. Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024 For example, the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois, in 2019 began offering housing assistance to Black residents to atone for generations of property undervaluation by white appraisers that slowed Black families’ efforts to accumulate generational wealth. USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2024 Since that night, people treated the shooting like a soap opera or binary of fandom instead of a traumatic incident that someone should atone for. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024 Beating Oregon State tonight will not atone for the crushing setback in 2018. Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 23 Feb. 2024 Many of the public electric vehicle chargers alongside California roads were built to atone for past wrongs. Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 22 Jan. 2024 An answer, too late Indiana did its best to atone for those first-half sins after the break, exiting the locker room on a tear that turned into a 17-7 run. Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Jan. 2024 When the opportunity to atone for that loss arrived, McDaniel basically dismissed Staley. Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2023 As Vincente tries to atone through insistent invitations, Violeta and Eva maintain firm boundaries with their father. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'atone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of atone was in 1574

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Dictionary Entries Near atone

Cite this Entry

“Atone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atone. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

atone

verb
atoned; atoning
: to do something to make up for a wrong that has been done

More from Merriam-Webster on atone

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