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- DictionaryA·tone/əˈtōn/
verb
- 1. make amends or reparation: "he was being helpful, to atone for his past mistakes"
us / əˈtoʊn / Add to word list. to do something that shows you are sorry for something bad that you did or for something that you failed to do: The director of the company has expressed a wish to atone for her past sins. (Definition of atone from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) Examples of atone. atone.
To atone is to do something "right" to make up for doing something wrong. Religious believers are known to atone for their sins, but even students can atone for a past failure by acing a quiz or two. The word atone came to English as a contraction of the words at and one. The verb means to make amends or reparations for an offense or wrong doing.
1. to make amends, as for an offense or error or for an offender (usu. fol. by for ): to atone for one's sins. 2. Obs. to become reconciled; agree. v.t. 3. to make amends for; expiate. 4. Obs. to bring into unity, accord, etc. [1545–55; back formation from atonement] a•ton′a•ble, a•tone′a•ble, adj.
6 days ago · verb. 1. (intransitive; foll by for) to make amends or reparation (for a crime, sin, etc) 2. (transitive) to expiate. to atone a guilt with repentance. 3. obsolete. to be in or bring into agreement. Collins English Dictionary.
atone (for something) to act in a way that shows you are sorry for doing something wrong in the past synonym make amends. to atone for a crime; a desire to atone
verb (used without object), a·toned, a·ton·ing. to make amends or reparation, as for an offense or a crime, or for an offender (usually followed by for ): to atone for one's sins. to make up, as for errors or deficiencies (usually followed by for ): to atone for one's failings. Obsolete. to become reconciled; agree. See more.
6 days ago · atone (third-person singular simple present atones, present participle atoning, simple past and past participle atoned) ( transitive, intransitive) To make reparation, compensation, amends or satisfaction for an offence, crime, mistake or deficiency. [from 1680s] Synonyms: expiate, propitiate.
