Meaning & use

tone

noun·Academic

The general character, quality, or attitude conveyed by something, especially the sound of a voice or a piece of writing.

See it in a sentence

Her tone of voice made it clear she was joking, not being serious.

The article's tone was surprisingly optimistic given the grim subject matter.

A note on using this word

Tone can also refer to a shade of color or the firmness of a muscle, as in 'muscle tone.'

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. noun

A particular shade or variation of a color.

The designer chose several tones of blue for the living room walls.

Make it your own

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