atone
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster
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🗓️ 2 October 2025
⏱️ 1 minutes
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Summary
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 2, 2025 is:
atone • \uh-TOHN\ • verb
To atone for something is to make amends for it—that is, to do something good as a way of showing that you are sorry about, or have remorse for, a mistake, bad behavior, etc.
// The novel opens with an act of cruelty and then traces the thoughts and actions of those responsible as they try to atone for it.
Examples:
“... the catcher atoned for his earlier miscue by hitting a game-tying solo homer to straightaway center field.” — Mac Cerullo, The Boston Herald, 24 July 2025
Did you know?
Atone has its roots in the idea of reconciliation and harmony. It grew out of the Middle English phrase at on meaning “in harmony,” a phrase echoed in current expressions like “feeling at one with nature.” When atone joined modern English in the 16th century, it meant “to reconcile,” and suggested the restoration of a peaceful and harmonious state between people or groups. Today, atone specifically implies addressing the damage—or disharmony—caused by one’s own behavior.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | It's the word of the day for October 2nd. |
| 0:12.0 | Today's word is atone, spelled A-T-O-N-E. |
| 0:16.0 | A tone is a verb. To atone for something is to make amends for it, that is to do something good |
| 0:23.2 | as a way of showing that you are sorry about or have remorse for a mistake or bad behavior. |
| 0:29.3 | Here's the word used in a sentence from the Boston Herald. The catcher atone for his earlier |
| 0:34.2 | miscue by hitting a game-tying solo Homer to straightaway center field. |
| 0:40.3 | A tone has its roots in the idea of reconciliation and harmony. |
| 0:45.3 | It grew out of the middle English phrase at on, meaning in harmony. |
| 0:49.3 | A phrase echoed in current expressions like feeling at one with nature. |
| 0:55.0 | When a tone joined modern English in the 16th century, it meant to reconcile |
| 0:59.6 | and suggested the restoration of a peaceful and harmonious state between people or groups. |
| 1:06.2 | Today, a tone specifically implies addressing the damage or disharmony caused by one's own behavior. |
| 1:13.4 | With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski. |
| 1:19.2 | Visit Miriamwebster.com today for definitions, wordplay, and trending word lookups. |
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