hone

1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈhōn 

honed; honing

transitive verb

1

: to sharpen or smooth with a whetstone

2

: to make more acute, intense, or effective : whet

helped her hone her comic timing

—Patricia Bosworth

honer noun

hone

2 of 3

noun

: whetstone

hone

3 of 3

verb (2)

honed; honing

intransitive verb

1

dialect : yearn

—often used with for or after

2

dialect : grumble, moan

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• edge
• grind
• sharpen
• stone
• strop
• whet

Examples of hone in a Sentence

Verb (1)

honed the knife's blade to razor-like sharpness

honed his crossword-puzzle skills by reading the dictionary as though it were a thrilling novel

honed the edge of the axe until it was amazingly sharp

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Through perseverance and a constant drive to improve, Katherine realized the enigmatic world of programming languages was where her talent met practicality, inspiring her to hone her skills and later build a successful career within this space. —Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025

Gregg’s boundary-busting aesthetic draws from a wide variety of styles, honed from a storied performance career that started in Chicago. —Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025

Volunteers from West Volusia Audubon Society lead this monthly program series, which includes in-class instruction and field opportunities to hone skills. —Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2025

Working on the process has also given Mendoza the opportunity to hone his skills in an innovative way. —Sergy Odiduro, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb (1)

Middle English, from Old English hān stone; akin to Old Norse hein whetstone, Latin cot-, cos, Sanskrit śiśāti he whets

Verb (2)

Middle French hoigner to grumble

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hone

• hone in
• hone in on

Kids Definition

hone

verb

ˈhōn

honed; honing

1

: to sharpen with or as if with a fine abrasive stone

2

: to make more intense or effective

top athletes honing their skills