sharpen
verb
sharp·en ˈshär-pən 
sharpened; sharpening ˈshärp-niŋ
ˈshär-pə-
transitive verb
: to make sharp or sharper
especially : hone
intransitive verb
: to become sharp or sharper
sharpener
ˈshärp-nər
noun ˈshär-pə-
Synonyms
- edge
- grind
- hone
- stone
- strop
- whet
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Can you sharpen the image? The lecture sharpened my understanding of the topic. The outlines of the mountains sharpened as we got closer.
Recent Examples on the Web The Lords is the more deliberative, less partisan body, deploying considerable expertise that can shape and sharpen public policy and hold the government to account. 
William Booth, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022 Clients seek out her coaching to improve their strategic and operational focus; manage their bandwidth to avoid burnout; sharpen their emotional intelligence and engage their teams; or create buy-in with stakeholders, CEOs and boards. Kevin Kelleher, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2022 Using metadata to sharpen process controls and unveil the mechanics of complex operations requires visionary leadership. Simone Steel, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2022 In the late 1980s, Clarence Thomas, as chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, was on the defensive as a Black conservative and looking for people who could help him sharpen his worldview. New York Times, 3 Aug. 2022 With the help of her gracious teacher Miss Honey, Matilda learns to sharpen her gift and take matters into her own hands. Leah Campano, Seventeen, 25 July 2022 These constraints are a boon to the film; action-seeking viewers can enjoy watching our protagonist sharpen her skills and outmaneuver her opponents. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 July 2022 Are there mental techniques to tune out the noise, sharpen focus and foster creativity? Forbes, 21 June 2022 Coming so close to a state title has fueled his focus to sharpen his game and finish the job in 2022. Robert Fenbers, cleveland, 20 June 2022 See More
William Booth, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022 Clients seek out her coaching to improve their strategic and operational focus; manage their bandwidth to avoid burnout; sharpen their emotional intelligence and engage their teams; or create buy-in with stakeholders, CEOs and boards. Kevin Kelleher, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2022 Using metadata to sharpen process controls and unveil the mechanics of complex operations requires visionary leadership. Simone Steel, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2022 In the late 1980s, Clarence Thomas, as chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, was on the defensive as a Black conservative and looking for people who could help him sharpen his worldview. New York Times, 3 Aug. 2022 With the help of her gracious teacher Miss Honey, Matilda learns to sharpen her gift and take matters into her own hands. Leah Campano, Seventeen, 25 July 2022 These constraints are a boon to the film; action-seeking viewers can enjoy watching our protagonist sharpen her skills and outmaneuver her opponents. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 July 2022 Are there mental techniques to tune out the noise, sharpen focus and foster creativity? Forbes, 21 June 2022 Coming so close to a state title has fueled his focus to sharpen his game and finish the job in 2022. Robert Fenbers, cleveland, 20 June 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Phrases Containing sharpen
Kids Definition
sharpen
verb
sharp·en ˈshär-pən
sharpened; sharpening
: to make or become sharp or sharper I sharpened the pencil's point.
sharpening
verb
as in grinding
to make sharp or sharper you need to sharpen your penknife's blade frequently in order to be able to whittle properly Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- grinding
- honing
- stropping
- edging
- whetting
- stoning
- filing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- blunting
- dulling
- polishing
- smoothing
- buffing
- burnishing
- rounding
- glossing
- quadrennial
- quadrennially
- quadrennials
- quadrennium
- quadrenniums
- quadri-
- quadric
- quadric chain
- quadric crank chain
- quadricentennial
- quadricentennials
- quadriceps
- quadricepses
- quadricipital
- quadricolor
- quadricones
- quadrics
- quadricycle
- quadriennia
- quadriennial
- quadriennials
- quadriennium
- quadriennium uti
- quadriennium utile
- quadrienniums