attune

[ uh-toon, uh-tyoon ]

verb (used with object)

, at·tuned, at·tun·ing.

1. to bring into accord, harmony, or sympathetic relationship; adjust:

   He has attuned himself to living in the quiet country.

2. Archaic. to tune or bring into harmony, as a musical instrument.

attune

/ əˈtjuːn /

verb

1. to adjust or accustom (a person or thing); acclimatize
2. to tune (a musical instrument)

Other Words From

• pre·at·tune verb (used with object) preattuned preattuning

Word History and Origins

Origin of attune¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; at- + tune

Example Sentences

A new crop of artists has been able to reach the heights of Martin’s success without the need to attune its Latino identity to appease a white majority.

From Los Angeles Times

Details illuminated in the vitrines also attune viewers to connections among seemingly unrelated works among the variety of mediums Ruscha has employed over 60 years.

From Los Angeles Times

In session, I attune to you, reflect and interpret.

From Seattle Times

Let your antennae attune, and you might even sense something uncanny about it — a trembling interplay, perhaps, between life and death, order and disorder.

From Washington Post

During this ain’t-war-hell opening stretch, Ritchie and his co-writers Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies attune the audience to the use of language, particularly how most soldiers refer to Ahmed as “the interpreter,” as if he’s a tool, not a person.

From New York Times

Related Words

• accommodate
• accustom
• adapt
• conform