sharpen

verb

sharp·​en ˈshär-pən How to pronounce sharpen (audio)
sharpened; sharpening ˈshärp-niŋ How to pronounce sharpen (audio)
ˈshär-pə-

transitive verb

: to make sharp or sharper
especially : hone

intransitive verb

: to become sharp or sharper
sharpener
ˈshärp-nər How to pronounce sharpen (audio)
ˈshär-pə-
noun

Examples of sharpen in a Sentence

Can you sharpen the image? The lecture sharpened my understanding of the topic. The outlines of the mountains sharpened as we got closer.
Recent Examples on the Web People sharpening their machetes and sweeping their front stoops and playing dominoes. Jared Lemus, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2024 President Joe Biden and Democrats must sharpen their message to re-energize Black voters. Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2024 But an emerging horror genre sharpens the same technologies into instruments of exploitation, turning clinics into torture chambers and doctors into demons. Amanda Hess, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 The rodeo alliance disagrees with the claim that animals are being harmed at any local events, saying no local groups use electric prods, sharpened spurs or other equipment or techniques criticized by animal rights groups. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2024 The deployment took place ahead of the expansion of Israeli military operations around Gaza's southern city of Rafah, where much of its population has sought safety, sharpening Egyptian fears that Palestinians could be forced en masse out of the enclave. Fox News, 9 Feb. 2024 After a mention in passing in the Vulture article, Rotten Tomatoes sharpened its ax. Christopher Null, WIRED, 7 Feb. 2024 She’s done this in flashes throughout her career, but her vision truly sharpened on The Lion King: The Gift, her compilation soundtrack for the 2019 photorealistic Lion King remake that doubled as a love letter to Afrobeats, which was then only just starting to cross over to the global stage. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 27 Feb. 2024 These principles have sharpened my approach to complex challenges, fostering a more compassionate and direct mindset. Greg Salvato, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sharpen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of sharpen was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near sharpen

Cite this Entry

“Sharpen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sharpen. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sharpen

verb
sharp·​en ˈshär-pən How to pronounce sharpen (audio)
sharpened; sharpening ˈshärp-(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce sharpen (audio)
1
: to make or become sharp or sharper
sharpen a pencil
a better lens sharpened the image
pain that suddenly sharpened
2
: improve
sharpen one's skills
sharpener noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sharpen

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