atone

American  

[uh-tohn] / əˈtoʊn /

verb (used without object)

atoned, atoning

1. 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.

2. to make up, as for errors or deficiencies (usually followed byfor ).

   to atone for one's failings.

3. Obsolete. to become reconciled; agree.

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verb (used with object)

atoned, atoning

1. to make amends for; expiate.

   He atoned his sins.

2. Obsolete. to bring into unity, harmony, concord, etc.

atone British  

/ əˈtəʊn /

verb

1. to make amends or reparation (for a crime, sin, etc)

2. (tr) to expiate

   to atone a guilt with repentance

3. obsolete to be in or bring into agreement

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Other Word Forms

• atonable adjective
• atoneable adjective
• atoner noun
• atoningly adverb
• unatoned adjective
• unatoning adjective

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").

Example Sentences

AFP journalists saw devotees deliberately puncturing their skin with glass shards attached to a small wooden paddle to ensure their bleeding during the ritual, a way to atone for sins and seek miracles from God.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Having suppressed its military for years in an attempt to atone for the horrors it perpetrated, can Germany fulfil its newfound ambition to become Europe's preeminent military power?

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

“I write to atone by telling the full truth so that the United States can protect itself from the dangers I witnessed for so many years,” Carvajal wrote.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

Universities including Columbia, Brown and Cornell agreed to pay the government hundreds of millions to atone for alleged violations similar to the ones facing UCLA.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2025

“To atone for this crime, you will drink the water that cleansed us from our labors.”

From "The Ugly One" by Leanne Statland Ellis

Related Words

• apologize
• redeem