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

Right before the first lunch service, Vizzari stood at the head of the room and set the tone. — Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Rather than building every lavish living room and sweeping residence on a soundstage, productions often turn to real-life properties that help define their characters and set the tone. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 17 July 2026

Brooklyn set the tone early, outplaying Sacramento from the opening tip. — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026

Dressing the part is one of the easiest ways to set the tone. — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026

Rhymes for set the tone

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