hone in
verb
Bob GreeneLisa Russell
Hone in vs. Home in: Usage Guide
Hone in is commonly used to mean "to move toward or focus attention on an objective," as in "hone in on a solution," but the use is often regarded as an error. The original and recommended phrase is home in, with home meaning "to move to or toward an objective by following a signal or landmark," as in "an arrow homing in on a target" and in the name of the creature known as the homing pigeon. Confusion between the similar-sounding hone and home likely arose because hone is a more familiar verb, and its meanings of "to sharpen or smooth with a whetstone" and "to make more acute, intense, or effective" can seem apt in the context of zeroing in on an objective. Still, careful writers will want to use home in, or zero in, if they want to avoid criticism.
Examples of hone in in a Sentence
Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 15 June 2026
It hones in on where iPhones were available upon their launch between 2007 and 2011, when AT&T was the exclusive carrier for the smartphone.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 13 June 2026
Far-right figure Tommy Robinson, born Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was among those to hone in on the refugee status of the suspect.
—Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 10 June 2026
Not their singing voice per se—that would have just been a bonus—but what I was honed in on was their speaking voice.
—Angela Hatem, Parents, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hone in
Cite this Entry
“Hone in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hone%20in. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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