: to establish a quality, feeling, or attitude by a manner of speaking or writing Her lighthearted question set the tone for the rest of the interview.

How does something set the tone?

According to the Cambridge Idioms Dictionary, to 'set the tone' is to establish a particular mood or character for something. When something someone does or says sets the tone for an event or activity, it establishes the way the event or activity will continue, especially the mood of the people involved.

What is the word for setting the tone?

Verb. Set the mood. establish a mood. establish the mood.