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 team’s landings set the tone from senior Ciena Alipio to Chiles.
—
Dakayla Hawkins, Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
The products, shades, and textures set the tone for their whole makeup vibe.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
The County Judge should set the tone as a neutral facilitator focused on respect, transparency, and order.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
How did Bird’s bravado set the tone for the contest’s competitive nature?
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 14 Feb. 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.
Dakayla Hawkins, Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
The products, shades, and textures set the tone for their whole makeup vibe.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
The County Judge should set the tone as a neutral facilitator focused on respect, transparency, and order.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
How did Bird’s bravado set the tone for the contest’s competitive nature?
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 14 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 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
