tune in

verb

tuned in; tuning in; tunes in

transitive verb

: to listen to or view a broadcast of
tuned in the weather report

intransitive verb

1
: to listen to or view a broadcast
We tuned in to hear the election results.
2
: to understand and be aware of a situation
He was not tuned in to the needs of his staff.

Examples of tune in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The tally – which is hugely competitive – combines streaming activity and purchases of individual tracks to determine the biggest tunes in the nation. — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Millions tuned in to watch her weather snowstorms, raise eaglets with her mate Shadow, and soar above Big Bear Lake, turning a wildlife camera into one of the internet's most beloved windows into nature. — James Ward, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 The youngster may have tuned in for podcast host and influencer Alix Earle and eventual champion Robert Irwin this season, but she was soon won over by older contestants such as Andy Richter and Elaine Hendrix. — Gregory Ellwood, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 That might be true even here, to an extent, considering more viewers may tune in to see what behavior comes next. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tune in

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of tune in was in 1913

Browse Nearby Words

tunefulness
tune in
tuneless
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tune in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tune%20in. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tune in

verb
1
: to listen to or view a broadcast
tune in next week for the conclusion
2
: to pay attention to what is happening or to one's surroundings

More from Merriam-Webster on tune in

Nglish: Translation of tune in for Spanish Speakers

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