set the tone

phrase

: 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

Williams was crisp from the outset as the Bears set the tone. — Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

All told, Spurrier set the tone for a surge that saw Florida beat Georgia 21 times across 26 years. — Jeff Sentell, AJC.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Konecny also set the tone with his physical play, finishing with four hits. — CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

Breakfast helps set the tone for steady energy throughout the day. — Caitlin Beale, HEALTH, 29 Oct. 2026

Rhymes for set the tone

• acetone
• anglophone
• baritone
• bourguignon
• buspirone
• chaperon
• chaperone
• cobblestone
• collarbone
• cornerstone
• cortisone
• dictaphone