honing

American  

[hoh-ning] / ˈhoʊ nɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or process of sharpening something on a hone or whetstone.

   The precision alignment of the cutting machine’s knife is not affected by the honing of the sharp edge.

2. the act or process of improving or perfecting a skill, program, idea, etc..

   In the third and fourth years the emphasis is on advanced training, with further honing of skills and attainment of competency.

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adjective

1. serving to sharpen or perfect.

   It is always a honing experience for us to come here and answer your questions—we leave a little sharper than we were before.

Etymology

Origin of honing

First recorded in 1790–1800; hone ¹ + -ing ¹ for the noun senses; hone ¹ + -ing ² for the adjective sense

Example Sentences

Honing the ranks hasn’t helped Berk defeat the dragons.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2025

“One of the theories that is important for the origins of musicality is that it could be a way of social bonding, of increasing the social cohesion of the group,” Honing said.

From Salon • Jun. 7, 2025

Honing in on footwork took a little bit of a backseat last season as Herbert was getting up to speed with coach Brandon Staley, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and quarterback coach Shane Day.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 2, 2022

Honing her skills at the Dale Youth Amateur Boxing Club in the years to come, the accolades began to stack up.

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2022

De Wet shook himself clear, and with splendid audacity cut the railway once more to the north of Honing Spruit, gathering up a train as he passed, and taking two hundred details prisoners.

From The Great Boer War by Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir