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to atone

to atone

26 6.2
Say or do something to show you are sorry and fix a wrong
  • verb
  • /əˈtoʊn/
translation icon : expiar
  • Marcus had attended Candace's funeral, just a boy showing up to atone for the actions of a father he barely knew.
  • atone for sins

And I will never, ever forgive that unless you atone and evolve.

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Examples

  • I know you to be a good man, and you will find a way to atone.

  • There is no doubt the US has much to atone for, both domestically and abroad.

    Blog text (2)
  • Tell me what to do, for I wish to atone for taking your life.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • There is no way for me to atone.

  • Dear Sally, this is the only way I can atone for the pain I have caused you.

  • I am on a pilgrimage to atone for the evil life I once led.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Georgetown is, in fact, in the process of attempting to atone for its past.

    Academic text (2017)
  • They have done more than enough to atone for their original offenses.

  • You must atone.

  • He wants to atone for his mistakes by volunteering every weekend.

Synonyms

to make amends
vsto atone
55 3.4

To do something to fix a mistake and show you are sorry

focuses more on showing sorrow and seeking forgiveness
to redeem
vsto atone
33 7.6

Save someone from sin or evil in a religious way

is about personal acts to show regret and seek forgiveness
to expiate
vsto atone
  • Formal
1 9.5

To make up for a wrong by doing something good

is about showing regret and seeking personal forgiveness
to abye
vsto atone
  • Archaic
9.9

To make up for a wrong by doing something good

is the modern neutral form used today
to aby
vsto atone
  • Archaic
9.9

To show you are sorry and correct a wrong

focuses on showing sorrow and seeking forgiveness rather than punishment

How Complete

to redeem
57 6.1
to expiate
  • Formal
1 9.5
to atone
26 6.2
to apologize
  • US
1.7

Surface Forms

atone infinitive
atoned past
atoned past participle
atoning present participle
atones third person singular

Morphology

atone = one (semi-transparent) = at + one

Historically from the phrase 'at one' meaning 'in agreement'; the sense 'make amends' is related but the archaic phrasing is not obvious to most learners.

Etymology

Atone comes from the old phrase at one, which means 'in agreement' or 'together', and it once meant becoming 'one' with someone after a wrong. So to atone today is to try to make things right and be at peace with someone.