sharpen
verb /ˈʃɑːpən/
/ˈʃɑːrpən/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they sharpen | /ˈʃɑːpən/ /ˈʃɑːrpən/ |
| he / she / it sharpens | /ˈʃɑːpənz/ /ˈʃɑːrpənz/ |
| past simple sharpened | /ˈʃɑːpənd/ /ˈʃɑːrpənd/ |
| past participle sharpened | /ˈʃɑːpənd/ /ˈʃɑːrpənd/ |
| -ing form sharpening | /ˈʃɑːpənɪŋ/ /ˈʃɑːrpənɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, intransitive] sharpen (something) to make something sharper; to become sharper
- She sharpened her pencils and started drawing.
- This knife needs sharpening.
- The outline of the trees sharpened as it grew lighter.
- [intransitive, transitive] sharpen (something) if a sense or feeling sharpens or something sharpens it, it becomes stronger and/or clearer
- Her hearing was sharpened by fear.
- The sea air sharpened our appetites.
- Clare’s kindness sharpened his awareness of the differences between them.
- [transitive] sharpen something to make an issue or topic of discussion clearer and more likely to produce a result
- There is a need to sharpen the focus of the discussion.
- [intransitive, transitive] to become or make something better, more effective, etc. than before synonym improve
- sharpen (up) He needs to sharpen up before the Olympic trials.
- sharpen something (up) She's doing a course to sharpen her business skills.
- We’re looking to sharpen up the product’s image.
- [intransitive, transitive] sharpen (something) if your voice sharpens or something sharpens it, it becomes high and loud in an unpleasant way