# hone

/ˈhoʊn/ (US) · /hˈəʊn/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hone
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

to improve a skill or a tool over a long period of time until it is excellent. You use this when you want to say you are making something sharper or better.

For teachers: to sharpen a blade or refine a skill through constant practice. Transitive; requires a direct object representing the skill or object being improved.

## Examples

- She spends hours every day to hone her piano skills.
- The young chef moved to Paris to hone his culinary techniques under the guidance of a master.
- While the basic theory can be learned in a classroom, a trial lawyer must hone their cross-examination skills through years of actual courtroom experience and observation.

## Pitfalls

- Not "he tried to home his skills" but "he tried to hone his skills" — Learners often confuse 'hone' (to sharpen) with 'home in on' (to target or move toward).

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and typically takes abstract objects like 'skills', 'craft', or 'instincts', or physical objects like 'blades'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.