hone in
verb
George PlimptonBob GreeneLisa Russell
Hone in vs. Home in: Usage Guide
Most usage commentators consider hone in to be a mistake for home in. The use may have arisen from home in by the weakening of the \m\ sound to \n\ or it may have developed simply because of the influence of hone, with perhaps an underlying sense that "honing" figuratively involves a narrowing or sharpening of focus. Whatever the explanation of its origins, it has established itself in American English and has begun to make a few inroads into British English as well. Even so, your use of it especially in writing is likely to be called a mistake. Home in or in figurative use zero in is an easy alternative.
Examples of hone in in a Sentence
Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
Specifically, this article hones in on two reasons why commitment to the process is such an effective strategy.
—Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Dead City is a taut, focused follow-up to The Walking Dead that pares down the franchise’s ensemble, honing in on two of its most memorable supporting characters.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2025
With seven albums under her belt, each has seen the singer grow her artistry in different ways, from honing in on key themes throughout the record or tapping into a more vulnerable side of herself.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hone in
Cite this Entry
“Hone in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hone%20in. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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