ˈhan(d)-tə-ˈhand 
ˈhan-də-
: involving physical contact or close enough range for physical contact
hand-to-hand fighting
: at very close range
Examples of hand-to-hand in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 10 July 2025
State police alleged that a hand-to-hand drug transaction was observed just before 1 p.m. Thursday on Wethersfield Avenue in Hartford.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2025
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
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Adjective
The trailer depicts clashes on land and sea, with hundreds of background actors and hand-to-hand combat that showcases Momoa’s physicality on screen.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 10 July 2025
State police alleged that a hand-to-hand drug transaction was observed just before 1 p.m. Thursday on Wethersfield Avenue in Hartford.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 June 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
Cite this Entry
“Hand-to-hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hand-to-hand. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
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