hone

1 of 3

verb (1)

honed; honing
Synonyms of honenext

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

hone

3 of 3

verb (2)

honed; honing

intransitive verb

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

Synonyms of hone

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
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Verb
Players such as Giddey and Buzelis are still trying to hone their skills, improve their defense, build a working relationship that will continue into future seasons. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026 The rocker spent two years honing his talents on the trumpet for Honora, an instrument that fired him up in his youth, a time when Dizzy Gillespie was his hero and his father’s jazz albums were his musical candy. Lars Brandle, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2026 The first step in honing this mindset is to figure out your starting point, Chopra says. Andee Tagle, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026 Conveying the Crucifixion and subsequent anguish using only voice provided an opportunity for Pelphrey to hone a new set of skills. Erin Jensen, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026 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 29 Mar. 2026.

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

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