atone

[ uh-tohn ]

/ əˈtoʊn /

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See synonyms for: atone / atoning / atonable / atoneable on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), a·toned, a·ton·ing.

to make amends or reparation, as for an offense or a crime, or for an offender (usually followed by for): to atone for one's sins.

to make up, as for errors or deficiencies (usually followed by for): to atone for one's failings.

Obsolete. to become reconciled; agree.

verb (used with object), a·toned, a·ton·ing.

to make amends for; expiate: He atoned his sins.

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

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of atone

First recorded in 1545–55; back formation from atonement

OTHER WORDS FROM atone

a·ton·a·ble, a·tone·a·ble, adjectivea·ton·er, nouna·ton·ing·ly, adverbun·a·toned, adjective

un·a·ton·ing, adjective

Words nearby atone

Aton, atonal, atonalism, atonality, at once, atone, at one blow, at one fell swoop, atonement, at one's, at one's best

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use atone in a sentence

Perhaps all the medals and ceremonies are our constant, insufficient attempt to atone.
What Mike Fanone Can't Forget|Molly Ball|August 5, 2021|Time
He insists he is not atoning for his former career in the oil industry.
Capping methane-spewing oil wells, one hole at a time|Nick Ehli|July 1, 2021|Washington Post
The radicals’ vision of acknowledging the horrors of the past to begin atoning for them carried the day as the Civil War reached its concluding stages.
The statue of Chief Justice Taney never belonged in the Capitol|Corey Brooks|July 1, 2021|Washington Post
Cynics said he had taken the presidency of the World Bank to atone for his actions as defense secretary.
"We Owe It to Future Generations to Explain Why." How Robert McNamara Came to Write His Memoirs About Vietnam|Peter Osnos|June 1, 2021|Time

What I did was wrong, and I have been atoning for the last 11 years.
Army captain who spied for Russia sentenced to 15 years in prison|Tom Jackman, Rachel Weiner|May 14, 2021|Washington Post
You must atone, apologize, and beg forgiveness for the thousands of LGBT lives you have taken.
Do LGBTs Owe Christians an Olive Branch? Try The Other Way Around|Jay Michaelson|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Heracles goes on his twelve labours, not to better mankind, but to achieve immortality and atone for his own sins.
The Walking Dead’s Luke Skywalker: Rick Grimes Is the Perfect Modern-Day Mythical Hero|Regina Lizik|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We all have a collective responsibility to atone for the actions of the U.S. and Israel in the coming weeks.
Jews and Non-Jews Need to Repent for the Sins of the U.S. and Israel|Rabbi Michael Lerner|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These “outsiders” are being invited to atone for their sins by leaving the new state.
India’s Newest State Telangana Is Bosnia Redux|Kranti Rai|March 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I wondered how many centuries of purgatory it would take to atone for such a sin.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Because if that was to atone for man's sin, it was needless, as God could have forgiven man without Himself suffering.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
The old gentleman, her father, I have heard, used to atone for his weekday sins with his Sunday devotions.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
He does not like children, and is satisfied to have Amy back, and is trying to atone for his former harshness.
The Cromptons|Mary J. Holmes
"You have been very patient, but no doubt you will find something that will atone for my silence there," she said.
Winston of the Prairie|Harold Bindloss
It seemed to him as if no punishment or penance could atone for such deception and for so great a crime.
Skipper Worse|Alexander Lange Kielland

British Dictionary definitions for atone

atone

/ (əˈtəʊn) /

verb

(intr foll by for) to make amends or reparation (for a crime, sin, etc)

(tr) to expiateto atone a guilt with repentance

obsolete to be in or bring into agreement

Derived forms of atone

atonable or atoneable, adjectiveatoner, noun

Word Origin for atone

C16: back formation from atonement

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with atone

at one

In agreement, in harmony, as in John and Pat were at one on every subject except her cat, which made him sneeze, or Springtime always makes me feel at one with nature. [1300s]

atone

Origin of atone

OTHER WORDS FROM atone

Words nearby atone

Words related to atone

How to use atone in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for atone

Derived forms of atone

Word Origin for atone

Other Idioms and Phrases with atone