hand-to-hand

1 of 2

adjective

: involving physical contact or close enough range for physical contact
hand-to-hand fighting

hand to hand

2 of 2

adverb

: at very close range

Examples of hand-to-hand 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.
Adjective
The first weapons devised by man were designed for hand-to-hand combat. Rabbi Moishe Kievman, Sun Sentinel, 9 May 2025 When the original owner of the bookstore needed to move locations down the road, the town residents showed up in droves, creating a human conveyor belt moving the books hand-to-hand down to the new location. American Booksellers Association, USA Today, 3 May 2025
Adverb
As Nick begins the ceremony, the handmaids who have blades sewn into their robes surreptitiously remove them and past them, hand to hand, down the pew. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 13 May 2025 In the weight room, David drops into a plank pose and moves the length of an agility ladder, hand to hand, down and back, pausing only when Will cracks a joke. Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hand-to-hand

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1833, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hand-to-hand was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Hand-to-hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hand-to-hand. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

hand-to-hand

adjective
ˌhan-tə-ˈhand
: involving physical contact
hand-to-hand combat

More from Merriam-Webster on hand-to-hand

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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