sharpen

verb

sharp·​en ˈshär-pən 

sharpened; sharpening ˈshär-pə-niŋ 

ˈshärp-niŋ

transitive verb

: to make sharp or sharper

especially : hone

intransitive verb

: to become sharp or sharper

sharpener

ˈshär-pə-nər 

ˈshärp-nər

noun

Synonyms

• grind
• hone
• whet
• stone

Examples of sharpen in a Sentence

Can you sharpen the image?

The lecture sharpened my understanding of the topic.

The outlines of the mountains sharpened as we got closer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Many athletes have found that the pressure of a high-stakes game can help to sharpen focus, and the Del Mar boys irrefutably finished the tournament with strength, resolve, and perhaps more importantly, joy. —Katherine Anderson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025

But one pattern has emerged this season: when the track temperature drops, the Silver Arrows seem to sharpen. —Kanzah Maktoum, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025

Zakrzewski bought a machete during his lunch break, took it home and sharpened it before hiding it and a crowbar, according to court records. —Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2025

Beijing’s tendency to view Starlink as tool of U.S. military power has sharpened its efforts to develop countermeasures — which, if deployed, could increase the risk of collateral damage to other customers as SpaceX expands its global footprint. —Erika Kinetz, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing sharpen

• sharpen up

Rhymes for sharpen

• tarpon
• pilocarpine

Kids Definition

sharpen

verb

sharp·​en ˈshär-pən 

sharpened; sharpening ˈshärp-(ə-)niŋ 

1

: to make or become sharp or sharper

sharpen a pencil

a better lens sharpened the image

pain that suddenly sharpened

2

: improve

sharpen one's skills

sharpener

ˈshärp-(ə-)nər 

noun