atone
14 synonyms for atone, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To make amends for a wrongdoing or mistake.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use atone
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
atone for a sin
atone for a mistake
Etymology
From Middle English atone, literally "at one" — to bring into agreement or unity, later coming to mean making amends.
Full origin of atone →Frequently asked questions
What does “atone” mean?
The word “atone” means to make amends for a wrongdoing or mistake. In plain terms, to make up for something wrong you did, usually through actions rather than just words.
How do you pronounce “atone”?
“Atone” is pronounced uh-TOHN (/əˈtoʊn/ in IPA).
How do you use “atone” in a sentence?
Here is “atone” used in a sentence: “He spent years trying to atone for his youthful mistakes.”
What is another word for “atone”?
Words with a similar meaning to “atone” include abegge, abide, aby/abye, acquit, answer and answer for.
What part of speech is “atone”?
“Atone” is a verb.
Where does the word “atone” come from?
The word “atone” comes from Middle English. From Middle English atone, literally "at one" — to bring into agreement or unity, later coming to mean making amends.
