sharpen

[shahr-puhn]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become sharp or sharper. sharp.

sharpen

/ ˈʃɑːpən /

verb

1. to make or become sharp or sharper

2. Usual US and Canadian word: sharp. music to raise the pitch of (a note), esp by one chromatic semitone

Other Word Forms

• sharpener noun
• presharpen verb (used with object)
• resharpen verb
• unsharpened adjective
• unsharpening adjective
• well-sharpened adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sharpen¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; sharp, -en ¹

Example Sentences

Two of the leading contenders to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell took aim at the Fed, sharpening their criticism as the White House prepares for a decision on the central bank’s leadership.

Read more on Barron's

Divisions have sharpened—in ways that don’t fit neatly into partisan boxes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A pinch of sea salt in a sweet bowl doesn’t just make it taste “better”—it deepens everything, sharpens the butter, brightens the fruit, makes the brown sugar taste like caramel instead of syrup.

Read more on Salon

The divides within the party, which last week was celebrating electoral victories in Virginia and New Jersey, are sure to sharpen.

Read more on BBC

As her long ocean journey continued, Roz passed the time by sharpening her skills of echolocation.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• better 
• enhance 
• fine-tune 
• improve 
• perfect 
• polish 
• polish up