whetstone

noun

whet·​stone ˈ(h)wet-ˌstōn How to pronounce whetstone (audio)
: a stone for whetting edge tools

Examples of whetstone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hone means to define or sharpen, like grinding a knife on a whetstone. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 23 Jan. 2026 Holding your knife’s handle in your non-dominant hand, rest it on the whetstone with your dominant hand applying light pressure to the flat of the blade. — Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026 Use a whetstone to file the edges at a 20 to 45-degree angle following the original bevel. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 10 Feb. 2026 Welsh and Griggs, like most culinary professionals, prefer honing steels and whetstones. — Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 15 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for whetstone

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of whetstone was before the 12th century

Rhymes for whetstone

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Browse Nearby Words

whet slate
whetstone
whetten
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whetstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whetstone. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

whetstone

noun
whet·​stone ˈhwet-ˌstōn How to pronounce whetstone (audio)
ˈwet-
: a stone for sharpening blades

More from Merriam-Webster on whetstone

Nglish: Translation of whetstone for Spanish Speakers

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