attune
gb/ətˈun/ us/ətˈun/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
C1
action
1
adapt to fit a situation
To change something so it fits a situation or need.
Usage pattern:
attune [something/yourself] to [something]
Common mistake:
Often confused with "tune" (music/radio) or misspelled as "atone".
Synonyms
adapt (More general; less of a ‘fine adjustment’ feel.)
|
tailor (Emphasizes customizing for a specific audience or purpose.)
|
align (Emphasizes matching goals, values, or direction.)
Antonyms
misalign (Emphasizes not matching the needs or context.)
|
ignore (Focuses on not taking the situation or signals into account.)
Collocations
attune yourself to
|attune a strategy to
|attune services to
|attune a message to
|attune the program to
|attune training to
|attune to local conditions
|attune to customers' needs
|attune to changes
|finely attuned
Themes
business
|communication
|self_improvement
Examples
- The company is trying to attune its services to what customers actually need.
- It took her a few weeks to attune herself to the faster pace of the new job.
- We need to attune the training to different skill levels.
Learner examples
- Try to attune your plan to the new rules.
- He attuned himself to the team's way of working.
Verb
formal
C1
action
2
make someone more aware
To help someone notice something better.
Usage pattern:
attune [someone/your ear/mind/senses] to [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may use "attune for"; the most common pattern is "attune ... to ...".
Synonyms
sensitize (More direct; often used for increasing sensitivity, sometimes negatively.)
|
tune in (More informal; emphasizes paying close attention.)
|
heighten (Focuses on increasing intensity of awareness.)
Antonyms
desensitize (Means to make less sensitive or less responsive.)
|
dull (Means to make less sharp or less aware.)
Collocations
attune your ear to
|attune your mind to
|attune your senses to
|attune yourself to cues
|attune to body signals
|attune to subtle changes
|attune students to
|attune people to
|attune to warning signs
|attune to emotions
Themes
emotions
|health
|learning
Examples
- Meditation can help you attune your mind to your breathing.
- Over time, the course attunes students to the cultural assumptions behind the language.
- After a few lessons, she began to attune her ear to the difference between the two sounds.
Learner examples
- The exercise helped me attune my ear to English stress.
- He is learning to attune himself to his body's signals.
Verb
B2
action
3
tune to the right frequency
To tune an instrument or device to the right sound or signal.
Usage pattern:
attune [instrument/device] to [pitch/frequency/station]
Common mistake:
Often replaced by the much more common verb "tune" in everyday speech.
Synonyms
tune (The everyday word; "attune" sounds more formal or technical.)
|
calibrate (More technical; emphasizes measurement accuracy rather than listening.)
Antonyms
detune (Means to make the pitch or frequency wrong.)
Collocations
attune a guitar
|attune a violin
|attune the receiver to
|attune the radio to
|attune an antenna to
|attune to a frequency
|attune to a station
|attune to a signal
Themes
music
|technology
Examples
- He stopped to attune his guitar before the show.
- The technician attuned the receiver to the emergency frequency.
- This circuit is designed to attune the antenna to a narrow band of signals.
Learner examples
- She attuned her violin before practice.
Grammar
Dictionary form
attune
IPA
GB/ətˈun/
US/ətˈun/
Syllables & stress
at - tune (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tune)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: attune
- 3rd Person Singular: attunes
- Present Participle: attuning
- Past: attuned
Word family
Forms
attunes
verb
attuning
verb
attuned
verb
Core family
attunement
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unattuned
adjective
Expressions
attune your ear to
1/ətˈun jˈʊɹ ˈɪɹ tə/
fixed phrase
formal
train listening for differences
To practice so you can hear small sound differences.
Examples
- Singing in a choir helps you attune your ear to harmony.
- Listening to slow recordings can help you attune your ear to connected speech.
- With practice, you can attune your ear to the accent and follow the conversation more easily.
attune yourself to
1/ətˈun jʊɹsˈɛlf tə/
fixed phrase
formal
adjust yourself to new conditions
To get used to something and match it.
Examples
- Give yourself time to attune yourself to the new routine.
- She tried to attune herself to the client's priorities before the meeting.
- On the first day, he listened more than he spoke to attune himself to the group.
be attuned to
1/bˈi ətˈund tə/
fixed phrase
formal
be aware and responsive
To notice something easily and react to it.
Examples
- Good teachers are attuned to the mood of the room.
- The design is attuned to the needs of older users.
- He seemed attuned to even small changes in her voice.