handy

adjective

\ ˈhan-dē

handier; handiest

Definition of handy

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : conveniently near

b : convenient for use

c of a ship : easily handled

2 : clever in using the hands especially in a variety of useful ways handy with a hammer as well as with a paintbrush

Handy

biographical name

Han·dy | \ ˈhan-dē

Definition of Handy (Entry 2 of 2)

W(illiam) C(hristopher) 1873–1958 American blues musician

Other Words from handy Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about handy

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms & Antonyms for handy

Synonyms: Adjective

accessible, convenient, reachable

Antonyms: Adjective

inaccessible, inconvenient, unhandy, unreachable, untouchable

Examples of handy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Powder Foundation, a handy, concealing powder compact. — Blake Bakkila, Good Housekeeping, "This Benefit Cosmetics Powder Foundation Solves (Almost) All of My Skin Problems," 11 June 2019 But his powers are immensely handy, and Beast could help him test the limits of his abilities. — Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, "Who Can Play the X-Men Now?," 7 June 2019 If Angela Alioto wins San Francisco’s mayor’s race on June 5, the directors of the city’s Public Works Department, Municipal Transportation Agency and Recreation and Park Department might want to have their resumes handy. — Dominic Fracassa, San Francisco Chronicle, "SF mayoral candidate Angela Alioto vows to ditch department heads if she wins," 26 Mar. 2018 The new smart home control panel gives you a handy way to control your gadgets with a touch. — courant.com, "CNET: The best smart displays of 2019," 3 July 2019 Here are some other handy ways to use more canned pumpkin: Sauces: Substitute pumpkin for half the cheese in a sauce and add a little extra garlic, onion, or even a tablespoon or two of Parmesan. — Jaclyn London, Ms, Rd, Cdn, Good Housekeeping, "The Best Pumpkin Health Benefits Every Fall Lover Needs to Know About," 14 June 2019 Wormholes have long been popular fixtures in science fiction as handy ways to get around by offering a kind of cosmic shortcut. — Steve Nadis, Discover Magazine, "We've Found Gravitational Waves. What Will We Learn From Them?," 24 May 2019 That comes in handy when the boys get recognized in public. — Julia M. Chan, CNN, "Brothers with special needs star in a world without limits," 14 June 2019 Charlotte's wave also comes in handy when the princess serves as a bridesmaid. — Maggie Maloney, Town & Country, "Princess Charlotte Looks Just Like Queen Elizabeth In Her New Birthday Photos," 1 May 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'handy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.