How to Use sharpen in a Sentence

sharpen

verb
Definition of sharpennext
Synonyms for sharpennext
  • Can you sharpen the image?
  • The outlines of the mountains sharpened as we got closer.
  • The lecture sharpened my understanding of the topic.
  • Meanwhile, both of them could use the courage to sharpen ...
    — Nr Editors, National Review, 1 Dec. 2023
  • The Bills got a scare last week and that should sharpen their focus.
    — Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2023
  • Here's a trio that will sharpen his prep work and lead to better meals in the end.
    — Mark Stock, Men's Health, 1 Nov. 2022
  • The island’s shape sharpened: a thin slice of stone floating like a cataract on the dark iris of the sea.
    — Carina Del Valle Schorske, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024
  • Check out how to sharpen a kitchen knife like a pro and where to get the best cutting boards.
    — Abigail Bailey, Good Housekeeping, 4 Nov. 2022
  • Then, lock the tool into a vise or hold it still with a clamp and move a mill file along the edge of the blade to sharpen.
    — Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2022
  • This will ensure you’re able to sharpen the entire length of each blade.
    — Bon Appétit, 16 Mar. 2022
  • But the hit to our wallets could sharpen if the world doesn't get a big new shot of crude oil supply.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2021
  • The straight-edge blades will require sharpening from time to time.
    — Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Feb. 2023
  • So is its refusal to sharpen its point to a stinger, to slather the action with a moral or message.
    — Jesse Green, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024
  • Ready to sharpen your knives and kick back with a martini or bold glass of red wine?
    — Ari Bendersky, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2022
  • Blessing to be able to sharpen them here with a bunch of guys who are still trying to learn their way.
    — Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, 18 Dec. 2021
  • No wrist fatigue here, and gone are the days of having to sharpen my knives every week.
    — Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 2 Nov. 2023
  • Desire sharpened my senses, made the rest of the world recede.
    — Diana Saverin, Longreads, 25 July 2024
  • Keeping the blade sharpened can also extend the spade’s life.
    — Pamela Porter, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Aug. 2023
  • Those values sharpen Musk’s role as both a hero and villain for Markey.
    — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Feb. 2023
  • Don’t neglect to clean, sharpen and oil your pruners, Edmunds said.
    — oregonlive, 8 Nov. 2021
  • The glowing blooms came into view, their edges sharpened.
    — Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2024
  • Winter is a good time to learn how to sharpen your tools — not just pruners and loppers, but shovels and hoes.
    — Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 2 Jan. 2022
  • Each Wednesday, Klink gathers her hatchets and a file and sharpens the blades of her trusty tools.
    — Mike Klingaman, Baltimore Sun, 23 Feb. 2023
  • Looney tossed up hook shots and twisting layups, sharpening his footwork on the low post.
    — Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Apr. 2023
  • Keep the mower blades sharp by sharpening them about every eight hours of use.
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2023
  • One friend borrowed a knife from the other to sharpen a pencil being used to keep score.
    — Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2023
  • In one scene, Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), a new recruit, goes to the river to find the perfect rock with which to sharpen her sword.
    — Laura Zornosa, Time, 16 Sep. 2022
  • The Lily of the movie, though, reads older and cooler; the dialogue, sharpened by Hall, is much funnier.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2024
  • October is a great time to sharpen your skills or learn something new that could set you apart in your industry.
    — Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 2 Oct. 2024
  • Savor surprise To sharpen the pleasure of our care packages, my wife and I try to wrap each item within the box so that our children can indulge in some suspense as the contents are slowly revealed.
    — Danny Heitman, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Oct. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sharpen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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