sharpen

verb sharp·en \ ˈshär-pən \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of sharpen

sharpened; sharpening play \ˈshärp-niŋ, ˈshär-pə-\

transitive verb

: to make sharp or sharper; especially : hone

intransitive verb

: to become sharp or sharper

—

sharpener

play \ˈshärp-nər, ˈshär-pə-\ noun

See sharpen defined for English-language learners

See sharpen defined for kids

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 of sharpen from the Web

Business and labor endorsements could also sharpen the incumbent’s image as a centrist.

— Fox News, "Dem Joe Manchin suffers biggest plummet in job approval of any senator: poll," 13 Apr. 2018
The chess champion, who trained in a formal chess league but often sharpened his skills at a Barclay barbershop, went undefeated (7-0) in his division, becoming the city’s first-ever National Chess Champion.

— baltimoresun.com, "Best of Baltimore 2018: People & media," 11 Apr. 2018
This year's Fast Forward program finds students working together to seek solutions to real-world problems and to sharpen critical 21st century learning skills.

— john benson, cleveland.com, "Lakewood City Schools' weeklong Camp Invention returns to Horace Mann Elementary School," 11 Apr. 2018
Officers had reportedly found two sharpened knives during a raid on the man's apartment in the west of the city.

— deutsche welle, USA TODAY, "German police thwart suspected attack during Berlin Half Marathon," 9 Apr. 2018
The gamekeeper sharpens the blade with a whetstone and shows him how it is done.

— josephine livingstone, The New Republic, "Does Crafting Make People Happier?," 9 Apr. 2018
Those who are new to programming or looking to sharpen their skills are invited to attend a crash course on the programming language Python.

— margeaux sippell, BostonGlobe.com, "Weekend business agenda," 5 Apr. 2018
This sharpens its technological edge, which in turn attracts new customers.

— The Economist, "TSMC is about to become the world’s most advanced chipmaker," 5 Apr. 2018
Will Boast’s novel inspired by the story of Apollo and Daphne, the female perspective sharpens into focus in a way that doesn’t happen in the original stories.

— elizabeth winkler, WSJ, "Two New Books Look at Mythology With Fresh Eyes," 2 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sharpen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of sharpen

15th century

sharpen Synonyms

SHARPEN Defined for English Language Learners

sharpen

verb

Definition of sharpen for English Language Learners

: to make (something) sharp or sharper
: to make (something) clearer or more distinct
: to become clearer or more distinct

SHARPEN Defined for Kids

sharpen

verb sharp·en \ ˈshär-pən \

Definition of sharpen for Students

sharpened; sharpening

: to make or become sharp or sharper I sharpened the pencil's point.

—

sharpener

noun

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sharpen

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sharpener

Examples of sharpen in a Sentence

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SHARPEN Defined for English Language Learners

sharpen

Definition of sharpen for English Language Learners

SHARPEN Defined for Kids

sharpen

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sharpener

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