To focus on or move towards something with precision or strong determination.
Examples:
The cat homed in on the rustling sound in the bush.As he spoke, the children homed in on his every word.The software can home in on text errors automatically.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Hone in on
/
həʊn ɪn ɒn
/
To focus closely and directly on something or someone
Examples:
The detective began to hone in on the suspect's whereabouts.As the storm approached, they honed in on safety protocols.Scientists are honing in on a cure for the disease.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
Home in on is similar to a homing pigeon finding its way home; it indicates moving directly towards a target or focus.
Hone refers to sharpening or refining something, like honing a skill.
Think of home as in finding your way home or target; think of hone as sharpening a knife to make it more precise.
Using home implies zeroing in on a destination; using hone implies improving or refining with effort.
Remember: Home in is about direction and focus; hone is about improvement and refinement.