hone in

verb

honed in; honing in; hones in

intransitive verb

informal

: to move toward or focus attention on an objective

Researchers are honing in on the cause of the disease.

The missile was honing in [=homing in] on its target.

—Bob Greene

… hones in on the plights and victories of the common man …

—Lisa Russell

Hone in vs. Home in: Usage Guide

Hone in is commonly used to mean "to move toward or focus attention on an objective," as in "hone in on a solution," but the use is often regarded as an error. The original and recommended phrase is home in, with home meaning "to move to or toward an objective by following a signal or landmark," as in "an arrow homing in on a target" and in the name of the creature known as the homing pigeon. Confusion between the similar-sounding hone and home likely arose because hone is a more familiar verb, and its meanings of "to sharpen or smooth with a whetstone" and "to make more acute, intense, or effective" can seem apt in the context of zeroing in on an objective. Still, careful writers will want to use home in, or zero in, if they want to avoid criticism.

Examples of hone in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rather than honing in on a particular animal or region, the series takes a kaleidoscopic look at life on Earth by visiting different ecosystem types, including plains, mountains, jungles, forests and the mysterious depths of the ocean. —David Faris, TheWeek, 13 Apr. 2026

The experience has given her a different perspective on the sacredness of time and the importance of honing in on a purpose and surrounding yourself with community. —Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 8 Apr. 2026

Jeglertz focused on rewiring a culture of doubt into assurance, honing in on his squad’s strengths and accentuating them, ensuring the same margins did not continue to thwart them. —Megan Feringa, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026

Addams honed in on Chicago's poor, industrial West Side in the 1880s. —Edie Kasten, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of home in

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hone in

• santonin
• calcitonin
• digitonin
• melatonin
• serotonin
• kronen
• onan
• phonon
• ronin