hand

1 of 3

noun

ˈhand 

often attributive

1

a(1)

: the terminal part of the vertebrate forelimb when modified (as in humans) as a grasping organ : the body part at the end of the arm of a human, ape, or monkey

holding a pair of scissors in his hand

She put her hands over her eyes.

(2)

: the forelimb segment (such as the terminal section of a bird's wing) of a vertebrate higher than the fishes that corresponds to the hand irrespective of its form or functional specialization

b

: something resembling a hand: such as

(1)

: an indicator or pointer on a dial

the hands of a clock

(2)

: a character ☞ used to direct particular attention (as to a note or paragraph) : fist, index

(3)

: a cluster of bananas developed from a single flower group

(4)

: a branched rootstock of ginger

(5)

: a bunch of large leaves (as of tobacco) tied together usually with another leaf

c

: a part serving the function of or resembling a hand: such as

(1)

: the hind foot of an ape

(2)

: the chela of a crustacean

2

a

: personal possession

—usually used in plural

The documents fell into the hands of the enemy.

b

: control, supervision

—usually used in plural

left the matter in her hands

3

a

: one of two sides or aspects of an issue or argument

On the one hand we can appeal for peace, and on the other, declare war.

b

: side, direction

soldiers fighting on either hand

4

a

: assistance or aid especially involving physical effort

lend a hand

b

: participation, interest

had no hand in the decision

c

: a round of applause

Let's give them a big hand.

5

a

: skill, ability

tried her hand at sailing

b

: an instrumental part

had a hand in the victory

6

: a pledge especially of betrothal or bestowal in marriage

He asked for her hand in marriage.

7

a(1)

: the cards or pieces held by a player

studied her hand

(2)

: a player in a card game or board game

b

: a single round in a game

lost the first hand but won the next two

c

: the force or solidity of one's position (as in negotiations)

trying to strengthen their hand

8

a(1)

: a person employed at manual labor or general tasks

a ranch hand

(2)

: worker, employee

employed over a hundred hands

b

: a member of a ship's crew

All hands on deck!

c

: a person who performs or executes a particular work

two portraits by the same hand

d

: a person skilled in a particular action or pursuit

a great hand at carpentry

e

: a specialist or veteran in a usually designated activity or region

a Latin America hand

9

a

: style of execution : workmanship

the hand of a master

b

: handiwork, doings

the hand of vandals

c

: the feel of or tactile reaction to something (such as silk or leather)

10

a

: style of penmanship : handwriting

wrote in a fancy hand

b

: signature

11

: a unit of measure equal to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters) used especially for the height of horses

a horse that is 15 hands high

12

: a punch made with a specified hand

knocked him out with a good right hand

see also:

at hand at the hands of by hand in hand on all hands on hand on one's hands out of hand to hand

hand

2 of 3

verb

handed; handing; hands

transitive verb

1

a

: to give, pass, or transmit with the hand

hand a letter to her

b

: to present or provide with

handed him a surprise

2

: to lead, guide, or assist with the hand

hand a lady into a bus

3

a

: furl

hand the sail

b

obsolete : to touch or manage with the hands

also : to deal with

see also:

hand it to

hand

3 of 3

adverb

: with the hands rather than by machine

hand stitched

Synonyms of hand

Noun

• side
• aspect
• angle

Verb

• provide
• give
• supply

Examples of hand in a Sentence

Noun

These gloves will keep your hands warm.

She put her hands over her eyes.

He sat quietly with his hands folded in his lap.

Do you need a hand?

Verb

was happy to hand her grandmother's cookie recipes to the parish ladies to put in their cookbook

the clerk handed her the receipt

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Meaningful games this time of year and the Charlotte Hornets haven’t exactly gone hand in hand for the last decade. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 7 Mar. 2026

On hand to officiate at the brief Catholic service was Reverend Charles J O’Byrne of New York’s Church of St Ignatius Loyola, where John’s mother Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s funeral was held in 1994. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2026

Verb

Last month, in a separate case, Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal handed Lai a rare legal victory by overturning his conviction for fraud ⁠and ​quashing a 69-month sentence. —Reuters 8 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026

The Heat was in control the rest of the way, handing the Nets their 10th straight loss. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026

Adverb

And putting money in people’s pockets goes hand-in-hand with social distancing policies, by defraying some of the costs of closing non-essential businesses, which in turn threatens the reliable paychecks of thousands of workers. —Ben Adler, The New Republic, 13 Apr. 2020

The two phenomena go hand-in-hand: The Arctic Oscillation is positive because the polar vortex is strong. —Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Verb, and Adverb

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German hant hand

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hand

• a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
• a free hand
• a helping hand
• at first hand
• at hand
• at the hand of
• back of one's hand
• back of the hand
• bear a hand
• bite the hand that feeds one
• black hand
• by hand
• by one's own hand
• by the hand
• cap in hand
• caught with his hand in the
• close at hand
• dab hand
• dead hand
• died by her own hand
• eat out of one's hand
• eat out of someone's hand
• eldest hand
• field hand
• force one's hand
• force someone's hand
• four-hand
• four-in-hand
• free hand
• give/lend me a hand with
• glad-hand
• grease the hand of
• had/held the whip hand
• hand and foot
• hand and glove
• hand ax
• hand back
• hand baggage
• hand blender
• hand brake
• hand cream
• hand down
• hand down a decision
• hand-eye coordination
• hand-feed
• hand, foot and mouth disease
• hand gel
• hand glass
• hand-holding
• hand in
• hand in glove
• hand in hand
• hand it to
• hand job
• hand lens
• hand luggage
• hand-me-down
• hand mixer
• hand off
• hand on
• hand organ
• hand out
• hand over
• hand over fist
• hand-painted
• hand puppet
• hand roll
• hand running
• hand signal
• hand-to-hand
• hand-to-mouth
• hand tool
• hand towel
• hand truck
• hand up
• hand-waving
• hand-wringing
• hat in hand
• have a hand in
• have (someone) in the palm of one's hand
• heavy hand
• helping hand
• hour hand
• in hand
• in the cup of someone's hand
• in the hollow of one's hand
• invisible hand
• iron hand
• keep one's hand in
• know something like the back of one's hand
• lay a hand on
• left-hand
• lend a hand
• lend a (helping) hand
• minute hand
• near at hand
• note of hand
• oil the hand
• old hand
• on every hand
• on hand
• on one hand
• on the one hand
• on the other hand
• out of hand
• overplay one's hand
• ranch hand
• right-hand
• right-hand man
• rule with an iron fist/hand
• running hand
• second hand
• section hand
• set one's hand to
• show one's hand
• sleight of hand
• sweep hand
• sweep-second hand
• the task at hand
• the upper hand
• the whip hand
• tip one's hand
• to hand
• try one's hand
• turn a hand
• turn one's hand
• turn one's hand to
• upper hand
• wait on (someone) hand and foot
• whip hand
• with a heavy hand

Rhymes for hand

• band
• banned
• bland
• brand
• canned
• fanned
• gland
• lande
• mande
• manned
• panned
• planned

Kids Definition

hand

1 of 2 noun

ˈhand 

1

a

: the free end part of the arm or forelimb when used (as in human beings) for handling, grasping, and holding

b

: any of various bodily parts (as the hind foot of an ape or the pincers of a crab) that are like the hand in structure or function

2

: something resembling a hand: as

a

: a pointer on a dial

b

: a figure of a hand with index finger extended to point something out

c

: a bunch of bananas

3

: personal possession : control

in the hands of the enemy

4

a

: side entry 1 sense 2, direction

fighting on either hand

b

: a side or point of view in an issue or argument

on the one hand, we can declare a tie, or on the other hand, keep playing

5

: a pledge especially of marriage

asked for her hand

6

: handwriting sense 2

7

: skill sense 1, ability

try one's hand at chess

8

a

: assistance or help involving physical effort

lend a hand

b

: a part or share in doing something

take a hand in the work

9

: a unit of measure equal to 4 inches (about 10.2 centimeters) used especially for the height of horses

10

: a round of applause

give him a hand

11

a

: the cards or pieces held by a player in a game

b

: a single round in a game

12

a

: one who performs or produces a work

two portraits by the same hand

b

: a hired worker

c

: a member of a ship's crew

all hands on deck

d

: one skilled in a particular activity or field

an old hand at foreign affairs

13

: workmanship sense 2

the hand of a master

hand

2 of 2 verb

1

: to guide or assist with the hand

2

: to give or pass with or as if with the hand

hand a person a letter

Medical Definition

hand

noun

ˈhand 

often attributive

1

a(1)

: the terminal part of the vertebrate forelimb when modified (as in humans) as a grasping organ

(2)

: the forelimb segment (as the terminal section of a bird's wing) of a vertebrate higher than the fishes that corresponds to the hand irrespective of its form or functional specialization

b

: a part serving the function of or resembling a hand

especially : the hind foot of an ape

c

: something resembling a hand

especially : an indicator or pointer on a dial

2

: a unit of measure equal to 4 inches or 10.2 centimeters used especially for the height of horses

Biographical Definition

Hand

biographical name

ˈhand 

(Billings) Learned 1872–1961 American jurist