intone

verb

in·​tone in-ˈtōn How to pronounce intone (audio)
intoned; intoning

transitive verb

: to utter in musical or prolonged tones : recite in singing tones or in a monotone

intransitive verb

: to utter something in singing tones or in monotone
intoner noun

Examples of intone in a Sentence

“Coming soon to a theater near you,” the announcer intoned. “The day is begun,” the narrator intoned
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In that respect, Stein’s notion of engagement is a guru’s formula for beatitude: settle on your mat and ignore your discomfort; empty your mind of its detritus; listen to my voice intoning a mantra; surrender to a higher power. Judith Thurman, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025 Eric-the-junkie had intoned to his even-then-passé parents, old-schoolers bent on building systems that would stick, that the monks were celebrating the ephemeral beauty of physical existence. Literary Hub, 9 July 2025 Also still present: a recorded voice intoning a once-familiar message over a loudspeaker. Alena Botros, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024 As a boxing match-style announcer intones some very iffy facts – 7’3 inches tall? Greg Evans, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for intone

Word History

Etymology

Middle French entoner, from Medieval Latin intonare, from Latin in- + tonus tone

First Known Use

1513, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of intone was in 1513

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intone. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

intone

verb
in·​tone in-ˈtōn How to pronounce intone (audio)
intoned; intoning
: to utter in musical or prolonged tones : chant
intoner noun

More from Merriam-Webster on intone

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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