honing

[ hoh-ning ]

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.

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of honing¹

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

Example Sentences

Really honing my skills in lighting—and failing, I might add.

From The Daily Beast

I believe in being aware of your creative process and honing it.

From The Daily Beast

The PA has also been channeling Anonymous and honing its hacking skills.

From The Daily Beast

But rather than honing in on the present (Mrs. Obama included), the designer is focused on the bigger picture instead.

From The Daily Beast

For most young men and women in fashion, honing a distinctive voice is, perhaps, the most difficult hurdle to building a business.

From The Daily Beast

Anton Martek, sitting on a pile of hay and honing an ax, looked up and grinned.

From Project Gutenberg

You would miss the football game in Richmond, but we are certainly honing for you, honey.

From Project Gutenberg

With this done, the operation is in general performed, and the wondrous difficulty of honing the razor vanishes.

From Project Gutenberg

Most men have the idea that honing is a difficult operation and should be undertaken only by expert cutlers or barbers.

From Project Gutenberg

If the razor is in good condition and not in need of honing, fifteen or twenty strokes in each direction will be sufficient.

From Project Gutenberg