tone
noun
any sound considered with reference to its quality, pitch, strength, source, etc..
was toning
-
past progressiveof tone.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
“She was toning down my less-than-judicious tone,” he said.
From New York Times ● Jun. 15, 2010
By midweek, Fleischer was toning down his rhetoric and indicating that some sort of understanding would be reached.
From Time Magazine Archive
Her instinctive fear of the father of her progeny was toning down.
From White Fang by Jack London
At first Mrs. Hosmer considered it a good thing that Marie was "toning down," but before long she felt that it was really not a change for the better.
From Golden Days for Boys and Girls, Vol. XIII, Nov. 28, 1891 by James Elverson
Mr. Wilfer's part of the undertaking was "toning"; that is, bringing to the imitations the necessary mistiness and discoloration supposed to be produced by age.
From Adrien Leroy by Charles Garvice
