Word.ws English Dictionary

sets the tone

sets the tone is the third-person singular simple present indicative of set the tone.

Meaning of set the tone

Verb

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

Questions about sets the tone

What is sets the tone the third-person singular simple present indicative of?
Sets the tone is the third-person singular simple present indicative of set the tone.

Words near sets the tone in the dictionary

  1. sets the pace
  2. sets the record straight
  3. sets the stage
  4. sets the table
  5. sets the Thames on fire
  6. sets the tone
  7. sets the wheels in motion
  8. sets the world on fire
  9. sets the world to rights
  10. sets to
  11. sets to work

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: sets the tone (page history and authors); set the tone (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this entry: “sets the tone.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/sets_the_tone. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.