Word
sharpen
Phoneticssharp·en, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈʃɑɹpən/
UK/ʃˈɑːpən/
Definition
v. to make the edge or point of something thin and sharp so it cuts better. You can also use it to describe improving a skill or making an image look clearer.
v. to make an edge or point acute or fine; to improve the acuity of a sense or the proficiency of a skill. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Examples
“I need to sharpen my pencil before the exam starts.”
“The chef uses a whetstone every morning to sharpen his knives for the busy lunch service.”
“The intensive three-month internship helped her sharpen her analytical skills, allowing her to identify subtle market trends that her more experienced colleagues had overlooked.”
Examples
simple
“I need to sharpen my pencil before the exam starts.”
contextual
“The chef uses a whetstone every morning to sharpen his knives for the busy lunch service.”
complex
“The intensive three-month internship helped her sharpen her analytical skills, allowing her to identify subtle market trends that her more experienced colleagues had overlooked.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. It is frequently used metaphorically with nouns like 'skills', 'focus', or 'wits'.
Etymology
From Middle English scharpenen, scharpnen, equivalent to sharp + -en.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/sharpen