hone in on
phrasal verb
honed in on; honing in on; hones in on
US
: to find and go directly toward (someone or something)
The missile was honing in on its target.
—usually used figurativelyResearchers are honing in on the cause of the disease.
Note: Although hone in on is widely used, many people regard it as an error for home in on.
Cite this Entry
“Hone in on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hone%20in%20on. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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