sharpen
verb
sharp·en
ˈshär-pən 
sharpened; sharpening
ˈshär-pə-niŋ
ˈshärp-niŋ
: to become sharp or sharper
Examples of sharpen in a Sentence
Can you sharpen the image?
The lecture sharpened my understanding of the topic.
The outlines of the mountains sharpened as we got closer.
Recent Examples on the Web
The difference is that in prediction markets, people are wagering actual money, which tends to sharpen the mind in ways that answering a pollster's call during dinner does not.
—
Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
Waning support for Israel, and increasingly bipartisan disapproval of the war in Iran, has loomed large over the primary elections, with candidates increasingly spurning the support of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and sharpening their criticism of the country.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
As Alphabet sharpens its focus on artificial intelligence to keep pace with rivals, the company has trimmed X’s budget and pushed many of the ventures to spin out as independent companies in recent years.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2026
Originally presented as a technical overhaul of the justice system, the reform has sharpened political divisions and unified the center‑left opposition, turning the referendum into a symbolic showdown on Meloni’s strength one year ahead of national elections.
—ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sharpen
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Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
Waning support for Israel, and increasingly bipartisan disapproval of the war in Iran, has loomed large over the primary elections, with candidates increasingly spurning the support of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and sharpening their criticism of the country.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
As Alphabet sharpens its focus on artificial intelligence to keep pace with rivals, the company has trimmed X’s budget and pushed many of the ventures to spin out as independent companies in recent years.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2026
Originally presented as a technical overhaul of the justice system, the reform has sharpened political divisions and unified the center‑left opposition, turning the referendum into a symbolic showdown on Meloni’s strength one year ahead of national elections.
—ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sharpen
Cite this Entry
“Sharpen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sharpen. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sharpen
verb
sharp·en
ˈshär-pən
sharpened; sharpening
ˈshärp-(ə-)niŋ
1
: to make or become sharp or sharper
sharpen a pencil
a better lens sharpened the image
pain that suddenly sharpened
2
: improve
sharpen one's skills
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