tune
7 synonyms and 1 antonym for tune, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A short, memorable melody or piece of music.
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.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A short, memorable melody or piece of music.
“The band played a lively tune and everyone began to dance.”
2. verb
To adjust an instrument, engine, or device so it works or sounds correctly.
“Please tune the guitar before we start the song.”
Opposites
untune
How to use tune
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
tune a guitar
tune in
catchy tune
change one's tune
Etymology
From Middle English tune, a variant of "tone," ultimately from Latin tonus and Greek tonos.
Full origin of tune →Frequently asked questions
What does “tune” mean?
The word “tune” means a short, memorable melody or piece of music. In plain terms, the melody of a piece of music, or the act of adjusting something (an instrument, engine, or radio) so it performs correctly.
How do you pronounce “tune”?
“Tune” is pronounced tyoon (/tjuːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “tune” in a sentence?
Here is “tune” used in a sentence: “She hummed the tune all afternoon without realizing it.”
What part of speech is “tune”?
Depending on how it is used, “tune” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “tune” come from?
The word “tune” comes from Latin. From Middle English tune, a variant of "tone," ultimately from Latin tonus and Greek tonos.
Is “tune” a common word?
“Tune” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “tune” have?
“Tune” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short, memorable melody or piece of music.
What is the difference between a "tune" and a "song"?
A tune is the melody itself — the sequence of musical notes — while a song usually includes both a tune and lyrics. You can hum or whistle a tune, but a song is typically sung with words.
What is the difference between "tune up" and "tune in"?
"Tune up" means to adjust an instrument, engine, or device so it works or sounds correctly, while "tune in" means to set a radio or television to a particular station or to start paying attention. They share the base word but describe very different actions.
