intone
Americanverb (used with object)
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intones,
present (3rd person singular)
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intoned,
past participle, past
-
intoning
present participle
-
to utter with a particular tone or voice modulation.
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to give tone or variety of tone to; vocalize.
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to utter in a singing voice (the first tones of a section in a liturgical service).
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to recite or chant in monotone.
verb (used without object)
-
intones,
present (3rd person singular)
-
intoned,
past participle, past
-
intoning
present participle
-
to speak or recite in a singing voice, especially in monotone; chant.
-
Music. to produce a tone, or a particular series of tones, like a scale, especially with the voice.
verb
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to utter, recite, or sing (a chant, prayer, etc) in a monotonous or incantatory tone
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(intr) to speak with a particular or characteristic intonation or tone
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to sing (the opening phrase of a psalm, etc) in plainsong
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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intonesimple
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intonessimple
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have intonedperfect
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has intonedperfect
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am intoningprogressive
-
are intoningprogressive
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is intoningprogressive
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have been intoningperfect progressive
-
has been intoningperfect progressive
Past
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intonedsimple
-
had intonedperfect
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was intoningprogressive
-
were intoningprogressive
-
had been intoningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of intone
1475–85; < Medieval Latin intonāre; replacing earlier entone < Middle French entoner < Medieval Latin; see in- 2, tone
Explanation
To intone is to to chant in a flat voice. When you recite a poem you had to memorize in English class, you're likely to intone the lines without much expression. You might intone bad news over the phone, bluntly and unemotionally, and librarians often intone a low command to keep the noise down in the library. People reciting prayers usually intone them as well. In the fourteenth century, the word was entunen, "sing, chant or recite," from a Latin root, intonare, "sing according to tone."
Vocabulary lists containing intone
Number the Stars
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Bless Me, Ultima
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Purple Hibiscus
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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.
See Examples For:
Those are the first words of the military Oath of Enlistment—the words that new members of the military, with right hands raised, intone as they join the service.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 29, 2026
The actors intone and belt out slogans from the 19th-century text while Nackt and a drummer accompany them with a wild, mostly electronic score.
From New York Times ● May 25, 2023
Akbar ceased performing the obligatory five prayers that Muslims must intone every day and began to worship “divine light.”
From Textbooks ● Dec. 14, 2022
For the spiritual “There Is a Balm in Gilead,” Tines broke off to intone like a preacher an incident that had happened the night before as he left the park.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2022
Seven raised her hands, about to intone a spell that made shadows look like monstruos, when the cuco let out a piercing scream and spun around toward Seven.
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
Instead of shaking my hand or saying hello, he intones, “Do you know why this is called the sitting room?”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026
"Holiday let, second home, second home, holiday let, second home, holiday let," she intones.
From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2026
A singer intones a haunting melody—“It’s been a long time and still we are not free.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 5, 2025
“If you come just for the mozzarella sticks, like, I wouldn’t judge you,” one TikTokker intones in an April 2024 video that’s been viewed 6.5 million times.
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2025
“Never take a seat in the back of the room,” intones Mirren.
From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart
"It's going to be he and I going to November," Bianco intoned at a recent televised debate, nodding towards Hilton.
From Barron's ● May 5, 2026
"We look for confidence in our achievements, our appearance, our accomplishments," intoned the perfectly coiffed and made-up Angela Halili on a recent episode of the "Girls Gone Bible" podcast.
From Salon ● Apr. 4, 2025
He was joined on stage by the song's producer, Mustard, who clutched a football while sporting the world's baggiest jeans - before Lamar pointed an imaginary remote control at the camera and intoned, "Game Over".
From BBC ● Feb. 9, 2025
“Our patron saints and guardian angels, pray for us,” they intoned together.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 11, 2025
“I am Kelly the All-Wonderful and All-Knowing,” she intoned.
From "George" by Alex Gino
It was an unusual mission for Avraamiy, whose days are usually filled with intoning prayers, counseling his flock and leading the clergymen from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine at the monastery.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
If You're Glad I'll Be Frank imagined the speaking clock as a real woman speaking live, her internal monologue utterly at odds with the deadening repetitiveness of endlessly intoning "at the third stroke..."
From BBC ● Nov. 29, 2025
The intoning of memento mori seeds a joyful duty toward the pursuit of human longevity as an act of grateful humility before the wonder of life.
From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2023
This weekend’s “S.N.L.” broadcast, hosted by Michael B. Jordan and featuring the musical guest Lil Baby, began with a dramatic voice-over intoning, “Criminals beware. There’s a new sheriff in town, and he means business.”
From New York Times ● Jan. 29, 2023
“Let’s all rise for some deep yoga breaths,” Ms. Wyman announces, her voice all of a sudden dripping maple syrup.Addie goes, “But—” and is cut off by Ms. Wyman intoning, “Breathe innnn.”
From "The Misfits" by James Howe
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