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
Though Greenard's sack total dropped from 12 last season to just three this year, his ability to generate quarterback pressure and stop the run continually set the tone for the defense.
—
CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Dark, rich woods can set the tone of a cabin retreat or a basement hangout, a centuries-old library or a McMansion Tuscan kitchen, depending on how they’re used.
—Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 15 Dec. 2025
Motifs set the tone for major houses, where some of the most exciting bags of the year became recognizable for their details, like chunky padlocks (Chloé), belts (Miu Miu), and curved shapes (Alaïa), rather than in-your-face logos.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 15 Dec. 2025
Economic data reports could set the tone for the market in the week ahead.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for set the tone
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CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Dark, rich woods can set the tone of a cabin retreat or a basement hangout, a centuries-old library or a McMansion Tuscan kitchen, depending on how they’re used.
—Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 15 Dec. 2025
Motifs set the tone for major houses, where some of the most exciting bags of the year became recognizable for their details, like chunky padlocks (Chloé), belts (Miu Miu), and curved shapes (Alaïa), rather than in-your-face logos.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 15 Dec. 2025
Economic data reports could set the tone for the market in the week ahead.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 14 Dec. 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 20 Dec. 2025.
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