Hone: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when talking about carefully improving skills or making something more effective over time.

• She spent years honing her writing skills.
• He honed his presentation to perfection.

Often used in the context of making a skill, tool, or sense more acute or effective. Can sometimes imply a more intense or focused effort.

• She attends workshops to sharpen her skills.
• Reading daily helps to sharpen the mind.

A general term used for making something better, which can be applied to many situations including skills, products, or conditions.

• She is taking classes to improve her English.
• The company is working to improve its services.

Used when talking about making something as flawless or as good as possible. Implies a high level of refinement.

• He has perfected his recipe over the years.
• Her goal is to perfect her technique.

This version of 'hone' is often considered a duplicate due to a typo or repetition, but the same definition and usage apply as mentioned previously.

• The athlete honed his running technique to improve his performance.
• Over the summer, he honed his coding skills by working on various projects.

Whetstone refers specifically to a stone used for sharpening cutting tools like knives, scissors, and other blades. It is often used in a more technical or traditional context, emphasizing the manual process of sharpening.

• He used a whetstone to sharpen his collection of kitchen knives.
• The blacksmith taught his apprentice how to use a whetstone to properly maintain their tools.

Sharpener is a straightforward term normally used to describe a device or tool used to sharpen pencils or other sharp objects. It is a common household item, especially in schools and offices.

• She used a sharpener to get a fine point on her pencil before the exam.
• The artist always keeps a sharpener handy while sketching.