handier; handiest
1
a
: 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
handiness noun

Examples of handy 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.
Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond. Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 4 July 2025 Google Photos has always been a handy way to store and organize your pictures, but its latest feature, Ask Photos, is taking things to a whole new level. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2025 Being dragged against the chest-high pier railing and into the water was just a remote possibility, and there was always a sharp knife handy to cut the line. Donald Millus, Outdoor Life, 3 July 2025 This Anker power bank has a handy pop-up Apple Watch charger that can deliver 5 watts and supports Nightstand mode. Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for handy

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of handy was circa 1525

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Handy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handy. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

handy

adjective
handier; handiest
1
a
: conveniently near
b
: easily handled or used
a handy sloop
a handy reference book
2
: clever in using the hands : dexterous
handy with a needle

Biographical Definition

Handy

biographical name

Han·​dy ˈhan-dē How to pronounce Handy (audio)
W(illiam) C(hristopher) 1873–1958 American blues musician

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