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
Baylor finished strong and should be among the top of the Big 12, while a road win for Auburn could set the tone for a turnaround year.
—
Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 18 June 2025
The patterns found on what are now referred to as the Marly and Perles collections were among the earliest motifs that set the tone for the brand’s signature aesthetic.
—Angela Tafoya, Architectural Digest, 17 June 2025
Sam Burns set the tone for the day with his historic 5-under 65 to get to 3-under overall.
—Savannah Leigh Richardson, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 June 2025
Painted, decorated, or however adorned, designers see walls as an opportunity for making a statement that will set the tone for the room.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for set the tone
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Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 18 June 2025
The patterns found on what are now referred to as the Marly and Perles collections were among the earliest motifs that set the tone for the brand’s signature aesthetic.
—Angela Tafoya, Architectural Digest, 17 June 2025
Sam Burns set the tone for the day with his historic 5-under 65 to get to 3-under overall.
—Savannah Leigh Richardson, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 June 2025
Painted, decorated, or however adorned, designers see walls as an opportunity for making a statement that will set the tone for the room.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 14 June 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 3 Jul. 2025.
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