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
The star freshman kept rolling, earning a friendly bounce on a 3-pointer from the corner to set the tone for the second half.
—
Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 22 Feb. 2026
Redick said pregame Thursday that Smart helps set the tone for the defense, taking on difficult assignments for the better of the team.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 21 Feb. 2026
The journey set the tone for the days ahead.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
But Hartman set the tone with a gliding layup just three seconds into the game.
—Bobby Narang, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for set the tone
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Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 22 Feb. 2026
Redick said pregame Thursday that Smart helps set the tone for the defense, taking on difficult assignments for the better of the team.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 21 Feb. 2026
The journey set the tone for the days ahead.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
But Hartman set the tone with a gliding layup just three seconds into the game.
—Bobby Narang, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 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 28 Feb. 2026.
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