ENGLISH
REFERENCE

honed

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈhoʊnd// UK //hˈəʊnd// honed

adj. describing a skill or an object that has been improved and made perfect over a long time. It is often used to talk about someone who is very good at what they do.

adj. refined or perfected through constant practice or effort; sharpened to a high degree of effectiveness. Often used as a participial adjective to describe professional skills or physical attributes.


SIMPLE

She has honed her piano skills through years of practice.

CONTEXTUAL

The athlete's honed physique was the result of a strict training regimen and a carefully controlled diet.

COMPLEX

After decades in the courtroom, the lawyer possessed a honed intuition for identifying when a witness was withholding crucial information during cross-examination.

Synonyms
Usage

Often follows a linking verb like 'become' or 'appear', or sits before the noun it modifies.

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