honed; honing
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
Patricia Bosworth
honer
noun
honed; honing
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
Selina Denman, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Jan. 2026
As Alvarado explores repeatedly, Valdez rejected that pathway, instead honing his indigenous roots, and dedicating his life to exalting those who, like him, exist in the in-between.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
The steep slopes and technical tree runs on Grouse Mountain, along with mogul fields and off-piste powder stashes, create an environment where expert skiers can comfortably hone their skills in a high-performance setting.
—Sara Hansen, Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2026
Below are key steps to take to build your organization’s blueprint around the norms, types of thinking and skills that veterans have honed during their years of serving in one of the largest global employers in the world.
—Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hone
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
The spa Jumeirah’s signature spa offering, Talise, has been honed to perfection here—set across three floors, with a women’s only section, 13 treatment rooms, a 20-meter indoor pool and a remedy suite that offers an iDome, hyperbaric oxygen chamber, and cryotherapy, among other facilities.
—Selina Denman, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Jan. 2026
As Alvarado explores repeatedly, Valdez rejected that pathway, instead honing his indigenous roots, and dedicating his life to exalting those who, like him, exist in the in-between.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
The steep slopes and technical tree runs on Grouse Mountain, along with mogul fields and off-piste powder stashes, create an environment where expert skiers can comfortably hone their skills in a high-performance setting.
—Sara Hansen, Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2026
Below are key steps to take to build your organization’s blueprint around the norms, types of thinking and skills that veterans have honed during their years of serving in one of the largest global employers in the world.
—Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hone
Cite this Entry
“Hone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hone. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
