set the tone

verb

Create the emotional quality to be expected for something.

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Meanings

verbset the tone (third-person singular simple present sets the tone, present participle setting the tone, simple past and past participle set the tone)

present singular third person sets the tone · participle present setting the tone

  1. Create the emotional quality to be expected for something.

    Jesus, a comparative bargain at £45m, sets the tone with relentless pressing and goals that have already made him an indispensable part of Arteta's plans, while Zinchenko brings quality, calm and creation.

    2022 October 1, Phil McNulty, “Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham: Gunners show identity & direction in outstanding derby win”, in BBC Sport

Translations

Dutch de toon aangeven, de toon zetten
  • de toon aangevenTranslations
  • de toon zettenTranslations
Finnish virittää tunnelma
  • virittää tunnelmaTranslations
French donner le ton, donner le la
  • donner le tonTranslations
  • donner le laTranslations
Italian dare il diapason
  • dare il diapasonTranslations
Polish nadawać ton, nadać ton
  • nadawać tonTranslations
  • nadać tonTranslations
Russian де́лать пого́ду
  • де́лать пого́ду (délatʹ pogódu)Translations
Swedish sätta tonen, slå an tonen
  • sätta tonenTranslations
  • slå an tonenTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

set the tone. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20the%20tone

MLA

“set the tone.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20the%20tone. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “set the tone,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20the%20tone.

Source: set the tone on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.