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
Selena Gomez and Ayo Edebiri set the tone with chin-length cuts and loads of body.
—
Grace McCarty, Glamour, 12 Jan. 2026
Moore, honored as WWD’s Style Icon, set the tone at the Style Awards in a black sequin halter Gucci column gown, a classic and chic look thanks to her decade-long collaboration with stylist Brad Goreski.
—Alex Badia, Footwear News, 12 Jan. 2026
But before comedian Nikki Glaser returned for the second year in a row to host the ceremony that honors achievements in both film and television (and aired on both CBS and Paramount+), the Golden Globes red carpet 2026 set the tone for what to expect from awards-show-season style.
—Maggie Coughlan, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Her performance as Perfidia Beverly Hills, set the tone for a film that went on to dominate key categories.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for set the tone
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.
Grace McCarty, Glamour, 12 Jan. 2026
Moore, honored as WWD’s Style Icon, set the tone at the Style Awards in a black sequin halter Gucci column gown, a classic and chic look thanks to her decade-long collaboration with stylist Brad Goreski.
—Alex Badia, Footwear News, 12 Jan. 2026
But before comedian Nikki Glaser returned for the second year in a row to host the ceremony that honors achievements in both film and television (and aired on both CBS and Paramount+), the Golden Globes red carpet 2026 set the tone for what to expect from awards-show-season style.
—Maggie Coughlan, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Her performance as Perfidia Beverly Hills, set the tone for a film that went on to dominate key categories.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 12 Jan. 2026
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 18 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
