hone

1 of 3

verb (1)

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 timingPatricia Bosworth
honer noun

hone

2 of 3

noun

hone

3 of 3

verb (2)

honed; honing

intransitive verb

1
dialect : yearn
often used with for or after
2
dialect : grumble, moan

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
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.
Verb
Giving employees the chance to respond helps hone confidence over time and could enable a higher level of performance in the long term. Andrea Vargas, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 Having spent a decade in Nashville honing her craft, Angie K is finding a newfound confidence and authenticity. Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 Molly has played tennis for over 25 years and has honed her eye for tennis shoe design over the years. Molly Harris, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2025 Born into a family of acrobats, Niu has been honing her craft since the age of 7, according to Sports Illustrated. Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for hone

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of hone was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Hone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hone. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on hone

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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