hand 1 of 2

noun

ˈhand How to pronounce hand (audio)
Definition of handnext
1
as in side
a certain way in which something appears or may be regarded on the one hand, you would have more storage space in a larger house, but on the other, you would have more rooms to heat

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2
as in flank
a place, space, or direction away from or beyond a central point or line tall buildings rose on either hand nothing but wide open space on either hand

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3
as in needle
an arrow-shaped piece on a dial or scale for registering information both hands of the clock pointed to 12

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4
as in employee
one who works for another for wages or a salary the restaurant always hires several more hands for the busy summer season

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5
as in handwriting
the form or style of a particular person's writing writes with a flowing, old-fashioned hand

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6
as in control
usually hands plural the ability to direct the course of something the final decision is in your hands

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7
as in possession
hands plural the fact or state of having (something) at one's disposal I'd like to get my hands on that vintage Cadillac convertible

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8
as in assistance
an act or instance of helping the downstairs tenant gave us a hand getting the heavy dresser up the stairs

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9
as in expert
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field once she got her own place, the young woman showed that she was quite a hand at interior decoration

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10
as in signature
a person's name written in their own handwriting often given to indicate awareness or consent the subpoena required a lawyer's hand

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hand

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to provide
to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption was happy to hand her grandmother's cookie recipes to the parish ladies to put in their cookbook

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2
as in to pass
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another the clerk handed her the receipt

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3
as in to leave
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another handed me her bundles while she fished for her house keys

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hand
Noun
The patron stands, hands clasped behind his back, with a foot perched on the box. — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Jewelry retailer Brilliant Earth now lets customers upload or snap a photo of their hand and overlay different engagement rings on their finger, giving a feel for various diamond shapes and carat weights. — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
Then, in 2000, Miramax’s aggressive campaigning and the universal affection for 67-year-old Michael Caine handed the veteran actor his second statuette. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 Novak Djokovic was handed the China Open trophy after Alex de Minaur retired injured in the final on Tuesday. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand
  1. side
  2. needle
  3. employee
  4. handwriting
  5. control
  6. possession
  7. assistance
  8. expert
Noun
  • On one side, the former townhouse faces the splendour of the US Embassy building and its gardens.
    — Julia Wytrazek, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The property is debuting as a member of Leading Hotels of the World, ushering in a new era of luxury for the area, and proving that, yes, chic and fabulous things can happen on either side of the Intracoastal.
    — Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of side
Noun
  • What’s going to move the shopping needle for accessories for spring 2027 will most likely be driven by unprecedented colors.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Diesel prices have come off their all-time highs in recent weeks, but the key industrial fuel has already moved the needle across the economy and financial markets, making affordability a more potent issue in the midterm elections.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of needle
Noun
  • But Young noted that the child's lawyer, the judge, and government attorneys seeking deportation will all be federal employees.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The service The service at Sala is seamless and friendly, and from arrival, the front desk staff feels more like a group of friends than a removed set of hotel employees.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of employee
Noun
  • Some handwriting experts wondered whether a lack of panache in penmanship was generational.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The show is arranged in eight parts and begins with a large white wall at the entrance with the title of the show scrawled in RM’s handwriting.
    — Christine Terrisse, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of handwriting
Noun
  • Badly injured, Captain Machchhar somehow opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers to overpower al-Hammami, and two off-duty pilots to take control of the plane and land it in Saudi Arabia.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 10 Oct. 2026
  • In recent years, business has also benefited from factors outside the company’s control, like a country music resurgence boosting the sale of acoustic guitars and Taylor Swift inspiring more young women to take up the instrument.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of control
Noun
  • The casing is consistent with the same caliber of weapon that Jones had in his possession when police took him into custody, a Fort Worth Police Department homicide unit detective wrote in an arrest warrant affidavit.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
  • On August 1, 2025, the day after the lease lapsed, Cathy and Salvatore sued for possession of their home in Manhattan housing court.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of possession
Noun
  • The Hope Florida Foundation supports Hope Florida, a signature initiative of DeSantis and his wife, Casey, that has aimed to get people off government assistance by connecting them with nonprofits and churches instead.
    — Liv Caputo, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
  • In 1867, the British government united its North American colonies to form the Canadian Confederation, in part to deter Washington from invading Canada in retaliation for London’s assistance to the Confederacy during the Civil War.
    — Robert B. Zoellick, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of assistance
Noun
  • In 2008, in Texas, geologist and Petrohawk Energy cofounder Dick Stoneburner—a great name for a shale rock expert—helped pioneer drilling and fracking and led the discovery of the Eagle Ford Shale oil boom in South Texas.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The Challenges Creating a compelling reason to visit a convenience store is a big challenge for small-format outlets in India, experts said.
    — Priyanka Salve,Jenny Lee, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of expert

Phrases Containing hand

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hamstrung
hand
handbag
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Cite this Entry

“Hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hand

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hand

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