MEANING
To say or sing words in an even, drawn-out tone.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- intone a prayer
- intone solemnly
On the page
The clerk intoned the names as though each belonged to the same person.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- intone
- Past tense
- intoned
- Past participle
- intoned
- Present participle
- intoning
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- intone
- Present continuous
- am/is/are intoning
- Present perfect
- have/has intoned
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been intoning
- Past
- intoned
- Past continuous
- was/were intoning
- Past perfect
- had intoned
- Past perfect continuous
- had been intoning
- Future
- will intone
- Future continuous
- will be intoning
- Future perfect
- will have intoned
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been intoning
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: intone; intones; intoned; intoned; intoning Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Commonness: moderately common. Third-person singular: intones.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
Keep a thought for later. Sign in to save privately.