hone in
verb
George PlimptonBob GreeneLisa Russell
Hone in vs. Home in: Usage Guide
Most usage commentators consider hone in to be a mistake for home in. The use may have arisen from home in by the weakening of the \m\ sound to \n\ or it may have developed simply because of the influence of hone, with perhaps an underlying sense that "honing" figuratively involves a narrowing or sharpening of focus. Whatever the explanation of its origins, it has established itself in American English and has begun to make a few inroads into British English as well. Even so, your use of it especially in writing is likely to be called a mistake. Home in or in figurative use zero in is an easy alternative.
Examples of hone in in a Sentence
Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
Last summer, Walmart grounded drones in Salt Lake City, Tampa and Phoenix, citing a desire to hone in on the Dallas-Forth Worth metro area.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 6 June 2025
Historically, great things have happened when Williamson hones in on mysteries and bodies of water, so this looks set to be a winner.
—Lucy Ford, Time, 19 May 2025
From tackling the country’s vicious dictatorship to honing in on intimate personal narratives while shattering taboos, Chilean documentary filmmakers continue to push boundaries and adapt to the pulse of broader social cues, committing to wide-ranging themes that not only educate, but enthral.
—Holly Jones, Variety, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hone in
Cite this Entry
“Hone in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hone%20in. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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