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
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
Ahmed’s electrifying turn illuminates the text, carefully honed by Lesslie. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026 Kyūsu, Japan Japanese kyūsu (teapot) artist Taisuke Shiraiwa honed his skills on the pottery wheel under the mentorship of master craftsman Konishi Yohei in Tokoname, Japan, a storied ceramics town. Abbey Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026 Researchers will be honing their forecasts as the season approaches, and will release additional outlooks in June, July and August. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026 Ahmed’s electrifying performance illuminates the text, carefully honed by Lesslie. Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 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 11 Apr. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on hone

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster