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
Clean, clear surfaces also set the tone for better focus.
—
Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
International favorites such as The Edition, Amanruya, Mandarin Oriental, and Six Senses have set the tone for high-design luxury on the peninsula.
—Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025
For the 20th anniversary of the shoe, which was Jordan Brand’s first collaboration and set the tone for future projects to come, Undefeated and Jordan Brand sought to make the shoe more widely available through multiple launches.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2025
But a first-inning home run from George Valera (who had just 41 career big-league at-bats) set the tone for Cleveland.
—Levi Weaver, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
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Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
International favorites such as The Edition, Amanruya, Mandarin Oriental, and Six Senses have set the tone for high-design luxury on the peninsula.
—Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025
For the 20th anniversary of the shoe, which was Jordan Brand’s first collaboration and set the tone for future projects to come, Undefeated and Jordan Brand sought to make the shoe more widely available through multiple launches.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2025
But a first-inning home run from George Valera (who had just 41 career big-league at-bats) set the tone for Cleveland.
—Levi Weaver, New York Times, 2 Oct. 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 7 Oct. 2025.
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