Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

atone

/əˈtoʊn/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.86 in modern English

Syllables: atone
IPA: /əˈtoʊn/

5

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To make reparation, compensation, amends or satisfaction for an offence, crime, mistake or deficiency.

verb

To bring at one or at concordance; to reconcile; to suffer appeasement.

Obsolete; Transitive verb

verb

To agree or accord; to be in accordance or harmony.

Intransitive verb; Obsolete

verb

To unite in making.

Obsolete; Transitive verb

verb

To absolve (someone else) of wrongdoing, especially by standing as an equivalent.

Example Sentences

"He tried to atone for his mistakes by working harder."
"She gave a donation to atone for her past actions."
"The ritual was performed to atone for sins."

Etymology

From atone (“reconciled”), from Middle English atone, attone, atoon (“agreed”, literally “at one”), equivalent to at + one. Compare Latin adūnō (“to unite, make one”) for the similar formation. Regarding the different phonological development of atone and one, see the note in one.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: atone

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /əˈtoʊn/
British English: /əˈtəʊn/

Usage

Inflected Forms

atones (present, singular) atoning (participle, present) atoned (participle, past) atoned (past)

Derived Forms

atonable atoneable atonement atoner atoningly unatoned unatoning

Synonyms

expiate propitiate repair abegge abide aby/abye acquit answer answer for assoil atone make amends

Rhymes With

own known phone well-known alone shown stone zone loan grown unknown tone

Questions

How do you pronounce atone?: The recorded pronunciation is /əˈtoʊn/.
What does atone mean?: To make reparation, compensation, amends or satisfaction for an offence, crime, mistake or deficiency.
Where does atone come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce atone

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “atone”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/əˈtoʊn/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “atone”.
Repeat and practice — Say “atone” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.