atone
verb (used without object)
to make amends or reparation, as for an offense or a crime, or for an offender (usually followed byfor ).
have been atoning
-
present perfect progressiveof atone.present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
Faas—who had sent Mr. Út’s photographer brother on an assignment during which he was killed—may have been atoning.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 27, 2025
Sehn may have been atoning for his own German ancestry when he dedicated himself to gathering, preserving and presenting hard evidence of the war crimes of Poland’s occupiers.
From Washington Post ● May 19, 2016
