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
His success with two first documentaries set the tone for his career: Broken Arrow and The Case of Dashiell Hammett.
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Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 7 June 2025
As the sole sponsor, Depop is spotlighting three standout sellers for a night that could set the tone for the season as a summer of synergy.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 5 June 2025
Setup and onboarding set the tone for the relationship ahead.
—Renae Gregoire, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Smith set the tone 11 minutes into Game 1, slashing Anderson as the winger circled the net, then later in the series doing the same to Gretzky.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for set the tone
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Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 7 June 2025
As the sole sponsor, Depop is spotlighting three standout sellers for a night that could set the tone for the season as a summer of synergy.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 5 June 2025
Setup and onboarding set the tone for the relationship ahead.
—Renae Gregoire, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Smith set the tone 11 minutes into Game 1, slashing Anderson as the winger circled the net, then later in the series doing the same to Gretzky.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 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 17 Jun. 2025.
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