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Est. 1828
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hone in
honed in; honing in; hones in
intransitive verb
informal
: to move toward or focus attention on an objective
Researchers are honing in on the cause of the disease.
The missile was honing in [=homing in] on its target.—
Bob Greene
… hones in on the plights and victories of the common man …—Lisa Russell
Hone in vs. Home in: Usage Guide
Hone in is commonly used to mean "to move toward or focus attention on an objective," as in "hone in on a solution," but the use is often regarded as an error. The original and recommended phrase is home in, with home meaning "to move to or toward an objective by following a signal or landmark," as in "an arrow homing in on a target" and in the name of the creature known as the homing pigeon. Confusion between the similar-sounding hone and home likely arose because hone is a more familiar verb, and its meanings of "to sharpen or smooth with a whetstone" and "to make more acute, intense, or effective" can seem apt in the context of zeroing in on an objective. Still, careful writers will want to use home in, or zero in, if they want to avoid criticism.
Examples of hone in in a Sentence
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Whether for health, finances, or clarity, both experts agree that Dry January is a great time to hone in on what works best for you.
—Essence, 26 Jan. 2026
In a world with countless chair types (and one too many knockoffs), honing in on the right style can feel overwhelming.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 22 Jan. 2026
The backstory The latest and greatest offering from Proper Hospitality — which includes the Proper Hotels and Residences and Avalon Hotels brands — Venice V hones in on luxury that reflects the local community.
—Krista Simmons, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Jan. 2026
Stay tuned to our tracker, which will be updated throughout the process as the Steelers hone in on their fourth head coach since 1969.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hone in
Word History
Etymology
alteration of home in
First Known Use
1965, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of hone in was
in 1965
See more words from the same year
Rhymes for hone in
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santonin
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calcitonin
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digitonin
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melatonin
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serotonin
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kronen
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onan
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phonon
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ronin
See All Rhymes for hone in
Browse Nearby Words
Honegger
hone in
hone in on
See all Nearby Words
Articles Related to hone in
Is it 'home in' or 'hone in'?
Both are used, but 'home in' does a better job of hitting the mark.
Cite this Entry
“Hone in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hone%20in. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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