atone
Americanverb (used without object)
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to make amends or reparation, as for an offense or a crime, or for an offender (usually followed byfor ).
to atone for one's sins.
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to make up, as for errors or deficiencies (usually followed byfor ).
to atone for one's failings.
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Obsolete. to become reconciled; agree.
verb (used with object)
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to make amends for; expiate.
He atoned his sins.
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Obsolete. to bring into unity, harmony, concord, etc.
verb
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to make amends or reparation (for a crime, sin, etc)
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(tr) to expiate
to atone a guilt with repentance
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obsolete to be in or bring into agreement
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of atone
First recorded in 1545–55; back formation from atonement
Explanation
To atone is to do something "right" to make up for doing something wrong. Religious believers are known to atone for their sins, but even students can atone for a past failure by acing a quiz or two. The word atone came to English as a contraction of the words at and one. The verb means to make amends or reparations for an offense or wrong doing. You can remember the meaning by thinking of it as a sort of Zen concept, to be "at one" or in harmony with someone, you have to atone for your mistakes and be forgiven. In a religious sense, it means to repent for sins ("to atone for his sins").
Vocabulary lists containing atone
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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Anthem
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Atone won the 1 1/8-mile $1-million Pegasus Turf Invitational with a seven-wide bid down the stretch to beat Ivar by three-quarters of a length.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2023
Atone returned $9.60, $5.40 and $4.40 and was ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. — his fourth winner of the day on the loaded card at Gulfstream.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 28, 2023
The column was headlined, “Logan Brass Should Atone by Resigning.”
From New York Times • Sep. 12, 2021
Atone point – the evening when their boat, the scientific research vessel the Grigory Mikheev, drifted through a steep ravine one evening – Jarvis had a moment.
From The Guardian • Jun. 2, 2012
Atone, then, O Arbaces!—atone the past: convert hatred into regard—vengeance into gratitude; preserve one who shall never be thy rival.
From Last Days of Pompeii by Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
