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
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.
That reading, in fact, could sharpen investor focus on the impacts of the war, particularly with respect to inflation concerns, and chip away at the early gains forecast for Wall Street.
From Barron's • May 5, 2026
“I’m always looking for ways to sharpen my acumen, if you will.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026
"Our hope is that this work will refine our view of past warmer climates and sharpen our understanding of how different elements of the Earth system interact," said Marks-Peterson.
From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2026
"We have some of the best human capital anywhere in the world. We just need to sharpen it with more training," Ruto added.
From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026
We had to wait for someone to bring a knife to sharpen it because Miss Engel is not allowed to leave me by myself.
From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
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.
