handed

1 of 2

adjective

hand·​ed ˈhan-dəd 

1

: having a hand or hands especially of a specified kind or number

—usually used in combination

a large-handed man

2

: using a specified hand or number of hands

—used in combination

right-handed

a one-handed catch

handed

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of hand entry 2

Examples of handed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Dolphins have been short-handed at tight end; Will Kacmarek, Seydou Traore and Ben Sims were all sidelined Monday. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

Joseph Paintsil scored a short-handed goal in the 79th minute to rally the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 1-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday night. — CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Joseph Paintsil scored a short-handed goal in the 79th minute to lead the Galaxy to a 1-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday night. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Joseph Paintsil scored a short-handed goal in the 79th minute as the Galaxy (6-8-7, 25 points) moved into 10th place in the Western Conference, one spot behind the ninth-place Portland Timbers (27 points). — Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Phrases Containing handed

• bare-handed
• cack-handed
• empty-handed
• four-handed
• ham-handed
• heavy-handed
• high-handed
• left-handed
• light-handed
• one-handed
• red-handed
• right-handed
• single-handed
• sure-handed
• three-handed
• two-handed

Rhymes for handed

• banded
• branded
• candid
• landed
• sanded
• stranded
• backhanded
• commanded
• demanded
• disbanded
• expanded
• misbranded

Kids Definition

handed

adjective

hand·​ed ˈhan-dəd 

: having or using such or so many hands

a right-handed person

handedness noun

Medical Definition

handed

adjective

hand·​ed ˈhan-dəd 

1

: having a hand or hands especially of a specified kind or number

—usually used in combination

a large-handed man

2

: using a specified hand or number of hands

—used in combination

right-handed