hands-on

adjective

ˈhan(d)z-ˈȯn 

-ˈän

1

: relating to, being, or providing direct practical experience in the operation or functioning of something

hands-on training

also : involving or allowing use of or touching with the hands

a hands-on museum display

2

: characterized by active personal involvement

a hands-on manager

Examples of hands-on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The father-son duo’s down-to-earth attire wasn’t just practical for a hands-on volunteer shift. —Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025

Arumugam said the hands-on experience reflects the spirit of San Francisco's art community. —Loureen Ayyoub, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025

The fun hands-on workshop demonstrates the basics of glass-blowing in a casual, no-experience-necessary environment. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025

Resolving these constraints required extremely fine work on mass distribution, tolerances, and contact points, based on extensive hands-on iteration rather than a purely virtual process. —Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 18 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for hands-on

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon