atone

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To atone for something means to make amends or compensation for a wrong you've done. You might feel guilty after hurting someone's feelings and want to make it up.

When we talk about atoning, we usually mean that someone has done something hurtful or unfair, like saying something mean or taking something that doesn't belong to them. When they decide to atone, they often try to fix the problem by doing something good in return, like helping the person they hurt or giving back what they took. This can be a way of showing they're sorry and making things right again.

How common is "atone"?

Word atone is considered rare in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.

Definitions

verb

(ambitransitive) To make reparation, compensation, amends or satisfaction for an offence, crime, mistake or deficiency.
Example: He tried to atone for his mistakes by working harder.
(obsolete, transitive) To bring at one or at concordance; to reconcile; to suffer appeasement.
(obsolete, intransitive) To agree or accord; to be in accordance or harmony.
(obsolete, transitive) To unite in making.
(proscribed) To absolve (someone else) of wrongdoing, especially by standing as an equivalent.

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Real examples of "atone" in context

The ENTIRE HISTORY of Bill Cipher from Gravity Falls!

Entertainment

The Axolotl would give Bill a second chance under the condition that Bill goes through an extremely hard trial to atone for his sins.

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atone

How common is "atone"?

verb

Real examples of "atone" in context

The ENTIRE HISTORY of Bill Cipher from Gravity Falls!

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