Pronunciation: /ˈʌndərˌtoʊn/

Definitions of undertone

noun a subdued or muted tone or quality

Example Sentences

A1 She spoke with a friendly undertone.

A2 The teacher's voice had a reassuring undertone.

B1 There was an undertone of excitement in the air before the concert.

B2 The politician's speech had a subtle undertone of aggression.

C1 The novel's ending had a complex undertone of melancholy and hope.

C2 The artist's work was praised for its intricate undertones of social commentary.

verb none

Example Sentences

A1 She undertones her voice when speaking to babies.

A2 He undertones his excitement to not seem too eager.

B1 The teacher undertones her disappointment in the student's behavior.

B2 The politician undertones his message to appeal to a wider audience.

C1 The actress undertones her emotions to convey a more complex character.

C2 The musician undertones his lyrics with subtle references to current events.

adjective none

Example Sentences

A1 She spoke with a friendly undertone during the meeting.

A2 The teacher's instructions had a clear undertone of encouragement.

B1 The movie had a subtle undertone of suspense that kept the audience engaged.

B2 The politician's speech had a strong undertone of nationalism.

C1 The artist's work often explores the undertones of societal issues.

C2 The novel was praised for its complex undertones of love and betrayal.

adverb none

Example Sentences

A1 She spoke with a friendly undertone.

A2 The teacher's instructions had a helpful undertone.

B1 His apology had a sincere undertone.

B2 The politician's speech had a subtle undertone of aggression.

C1 The artist's work often contains deep undertones of emotion.

C2 The novel's dialogue was filled with complex undertones of betrayal and love.

pronoun none

Example Sentences

A1 I could sense an undertone of sadness in her voice.

A2 There was an undertone of excitement in the room as the concert started.

B1 The movie had an undertone of mystery that kept me intrigued.

B2 The painting had a subtle undertone of melancholy that resonated with me.

C1 The novel's undertone of political commentary added depth to the story.

C2 The play's undertone of social injustice sparked a lively debate among the audience.

preposition none

Example Sentences

A1 She spoke with an undertone of sadness in her voice.

A2 The painting had an undertone of mystery that intrigued the viewers.

B1 His jokes always had an undertone of sarcasm that not everyone appreciated.

B2 The politician's speech had an undertone of aggression towards his opponents.

C1 The novel's plot had an undertone of political commentary that added depth to the story.

C2 The artist's latest collection had an undertone of rebellion against societal norms.

conjunction none

Example Sentences

A1 She spoke with a friendly undertone.

A2 There was an undertone of excitement in his voice.

B1 The meeting had an undertone of tension due to the upcoming changes.

B2 His words had a subtle undertone of sarcasm that not everyone caught.

C1 The novel's undertone of melancholy added depth to the story.

C2 The artist's use of color created a complex undertone in the painting.

interjection none

Example Sentences

A1 Undertone! I don't like it.

A2 Undertone, are you sure about that?

B1 Undertone, let's discuss this further.

B2 Undertone, there seems to be a hidden meaning.

C1 Undertone, I sense a deeper implication.

C2 Undertone, the subtleties in the conversation are intriguing.

article none

Example Sentences

A1 She spoke with a friendly undertone.

A2 The undertone of his message was quite serious.

B1 There was an undertone of excitement in the room.

B2 The music had a subtle undertone of sadness.

C1 The painting's undertone hinted at deeper emotions.

C2 Her words carried an undertone of authority and confidence.

Examples of undertone in a Sentence

formal The speaker's words had a subtle undertone of disapproval.

informal There was an undertone of excitement in her voice when she talked about the party.

slang I could sense an undertone of jealousy in her tone.

figurative The painting had an undertone of melancholy that spoke to the viewer's soul.

Grammatical Forms of undertone

past tense

undertoned

plural

undertones

comparative

more undertone

superlative

most undertone

present tense

undertones

future tense

will undertone

perfect tense

have undertoned

continuous tense

is undertoning

singular

undertone

positive degree

undertone

infinitive

to undertone

gerund

undertoning

participle

undertoning

Origin and Evolution of undertone

First Known Use: 1680 year
Language of Origin: Old French
Story behind the word: The word 'undertone' originated from the Old French term 'ton' meaning tone or sound, combined with the prefix 'under' indicating a subtle or subdued quality.
Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe a subtle or subdued sound or quality, 'undertone' has evolved to also refer to a hidden or underlying meaning or feeling in speech or writing.