attune

verb

at·​tune ə-ˈtün How to pronounce attune (audio)
-ˈtyün
attuned; attuning; attunes

transitive verb

1
: to bring into harmony : tune
2
: to make aware or responsive
attune businesses to changing trends
attunement
ə-ˈtün-mənt How to pronounce attune (audio)
-ˈtyün-
noun

Examples of attune in a Sentence

after years spent in academia, he's finding it difficult to attune himself to the corporate culture
Recent Examples on the Web The effect was to attune the eye to subtle contrasts—the way a gown juxtaposed shiny pewter satin with matte taffeta in a similar hue, or a pair of sequinned ombré trousers changed from charcoal at the hip to faintly ashen at the hem. Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023 Business students and young employees were already attuned. Bill Novelli, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2023 Seligman is nonetheless attuned to the cast’s strengths and alert to moments that spotlight them. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2023 Yet among community leaders, those attuned to local politics, and Bowser loyalists, Falcicchio’s fall has been an enduring focus of conversation and social media chatter. Paul Schwartzman, Washington Post, 6 Aug. 2023 For firebrands such as House Speaker Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), calls to defund NPR became early salvos in the political culture wars, claiming NPR was not attuned to conservative views and values. Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2023 Spiegel seemed particularly attuned to the need to turn the business around, highlighting the company’s reorganization last year and the focus on rebuilding its advertising business. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 July 2023 Germany’s strategy might then be seen as a sensible recalibration of Europe’s approach to China, one that is attuned to European circumstances and distinct from the U.S. approach. Liana Fix, Foreign Affairs, 1 Aug. 2023 The project’s landscape design, by DIRT Studio, is both aesthetically and philosophically attuned to Blackwell’s architecture. Mark Lamster, Dallas News, 26 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'attune.' 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

see tune entry 1

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of attune was in 1592

Dictionary Entries Near attune

Cite this Entry

“Attune.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attune. Accessed 26 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

attune

verb
at·​tune ə-ˈt(y)ün How to pronounce attune (audio)
: to bring into harmony : tune
attunement noun

More from Merriam-Webster on attune

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