hone

1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈhōn 

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 timing …

—Patricia Bosworth

honer noun

hone

2 of 3

noun

: whetstone

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

Verb (1)

• sharpen

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

Verb

For those looking for something more immersive, the gardens also hold tea workshops that focus on tea blending and fine honing your tea sensory skills. —Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026

Read on to learn why honing a resilience response can protect your heart long-term, and how to do just that. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 5 Feb. 2026

These international operations depend on bloodlines honed over generations by American breeders, law enforcement and animal welfare officials say. —Tracey McManus, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026

Texas athletes are ready to make the Lone Star State proud at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, including one athlete who honed his skills in the Alamo City. —Annasofia Scheve, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Feb. 2026

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

Phrases Containing hone

• hone in
• hone in on

Rhymes for hone

• blown
• clone
• cone
• crone
• drone
• flown
• groan
• grown
• joan
• known
• loan
• lone

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