intone

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA ^(key): /ɪnˈtoʊn/
• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ɪnˈtəʊn/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form intone

Third-person singular intones

Past tense intoned

Past participle intoned

Present participle intoning

1. Intone is to sing, chant or recite without many changes in pitch.

   I could hear the priest intone the prayer.

2. (music) To intone is to sing the opening phrase of a plainsong.
3. To intone is to speak carefully, choosing a particular pitch or changes of pitch.

   He intoned the bad news in a slow, sad way.