hand-holding

noun

hand-hold·​ing ˈhan(d)-ˌhōl-diŋ How to pronounce hand-holding (audio)
: solicitous attention, support, or instruction (as in servicing clients)
hand-holder noun

Examples of hand-holding 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.
Adams views these interventions not as hand-holding, but as essential adaptations to a new workplace culture, where transparency, constant feedback, and a search for meaning are fundamental. Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025 Ahead of their May studio confirmation, Anderson .Paak and Mariah Carey had already set the internet ablaze with a series of very public hand-holding moments. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 25 Sep. 2025 The Songbird Supreme spoke with Gayle King on the Wednesday, Sept. 24 episode of CBS Mornings about her upcoming 16th studio album, Here for It All, which features collaborations with .Paak following their recent hand-holding outings that sparked romance rumors. Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025 Everyone gathers in the seance room for a little Practical Magic–esque spell-casting hand-holding. Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025 Cross-train staff, delegate decision making early, and build a leadership layer that doesn’t need hand-holding. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025 In the middle of the episode, the pop superstar — who demonstrated visible PDA with Travis, 35, throughout the podcast's two-hour duration (kissing, hand-holding and all) — discussed her obsession with numerology, particularly her fascination with the number 13. Skyler Caruso, People.com, 14 Aug. 2025 Startups need self-starters who can tackle challenges without excessive hand-holding. Abdo Riani, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hand-holding was in 1967

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Cite this Entry

“Hand-holding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hand-holding. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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