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
The league is still honing its consistency with penalizing flopping, which can only add to the confusion Adelman mentioned when coaches are trying to ensure their players are in positions to play ball freely. James Jackson, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025 After honing his craft at Disfrutar in Barcelona and Benu in San Francisco, Gigli returned home to reinterpret local traditions with modern precision. Laura May Todd, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025 This is their mentality, honed since defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s first meeting of the year, as linebacker Alex Singleton recalled Friday. Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025 In Kansas City, it’s not forgotten that Fuson Port honed her athletic skills on local playgrounds and hardcourts, especially around the Northland. The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 20 Dec. 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 26 Dec. 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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