1 B2 idiomatic neutral
To direct one's attention or efforts precisely toward a specific target or issue (variant of 'home in on')
"The therapist helped him hone in on the root cause of his anxiety."
inseparable
hone in
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
To direct full attention or effort precisely toward something — a common variant of 'home in on', though traditionally considered non-standard
In plain English
Aim carefully at something specific or focus sharply on it
What does "hone in" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Usage note: Many style guides and prescriptive grammarians consider 'hone in' to be a mistake for 'home in'. However, it is now so widespread in both American and British English that Merriam-Webster and others accept it. ESL learners should be aware of the controversy and may prefer 'home in' in formal writing.
Words that pair with "hone in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
issue problem cause target detail weakness
How to conjugate "hone in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
hone in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hones in
he/she/it
Past simple
honed in
yesterday
Past participle
honed in
have + pp
-ing form
honing in
continuous
Hear "hone in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "hone in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "hone in"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
converge on focus on home in on lock onto pinpoint zero in on
Keep exploring
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