What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hone
Example
He spent hours honing his guitar skills. [hone: verb]
Example
She has been honing her public speaking abilities for months. [hone: present participle]
refine
Example
The oil was refined to remove impurities. [refine: verb]
Example
The designer refined the prototype to make it more user-friendly. [refined: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Refine is more commonly used than hone in everyday language. Refine is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while hone is less common and refers to a more specific type of improvement.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hone and refine?
Both hone and refine can be used in formal and informal contexts, but refine may be considered more formal due to its connotation of sophistication and elegance.
