sharpen
Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb
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to make or become sharp or sharper
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Usual US and Canadian word: sharp. music to raise the pitch of (a note), esp by one chromatic semitone
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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sharpensimple
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sharpenssimple
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have sharpenedperfect
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has sharpenedperfect
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am sharpeningprogressive
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are sharpeningprogressive
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is sharpeningprogressive
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have been sharpeningperfect progressive
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has been sharpeningperfect progressive
Past
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sharpenedsimple
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had sharpenedperfect
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was sharpeningprogressive
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were sharpeningprogressive
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had been sharpeningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sharpen
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at sharp, -en 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Over time, this can improve discipline, sharpen strategy, and lead to more consistent decision-making.
From Barron's • Jun. 24, 2026
You can sharpen your strengths and prune a position into something that you truly enjoy.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 22, 2026
“Star players absolutely helped sharpen our instincts as producers.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
“Our challenges, while not systemic, highlight where we must sharpen our operational edge,” Chief Operating Officer Dan Janki told employees in a memo this month.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
Then his eyes sharpen, and he scratches his head.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
