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 of sharpen

• 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

Improvers Ambitious professionals who want to sharpen their minds and apply powerful ideas to their work and lives. —Daphne Koller, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026

His former manager at Leicester, Brendan Rodgers, is now coaching in Saudi Arabia — not that the lad sharpened by a steely upbringing near Sheffield is an obvious fit to finish his career too far from home. —Andy Mitten, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026

And as each individual signal was beginning to get lost in the noise, the volume began rising and the claims sharpened. —Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026

This was proved several years later — prompting Chowla to sharpen the question in 1965. —Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 28 Jan. 2026

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