hand-to-hand

1 of 2

adjective

ˈhan(d)-tə-ˈhand 

ˈhan-də-

: involving physical contact or close enough range for physical contact

hand-to-hand fighting

hand to hand

2 of 2

adverb

: at very close range

Examples of hand-to-hand in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Waterbury Police Department officers reportedly observed Santos and others conducting hand-to-hand drug transactions from a car Santos was driving on March 21, 2021, according to court records. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2025

Recalling the unbelievable fight sequences that littered Gareth Evans’ popular Indonesian film The Raid, this work of wonder is stuffed to the brim with Tjahjanto’s signature style: kinetic camerawork and brutal hand-to-hand choreography, relentlessly conveyed through extended set pieces. —Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025

Adverb

It is embedded in the pages of a magazine passed hand to hand, mother to daughter, generation to generation. —Shelby Stewart, Essence, 4 Aug. 2025

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

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1833, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hand-to-hand

• ampersand
• beforehand
• behindhand
• bottomland
• contraband
• countermand
• dixieland
• fairyland
• fatherland
• firebrand
• hinterland
• motherland

Kids Definition

hand-to-hand

adjective

ˌhan-tə-ˈhand

: involving physical contact

hand-to-hand combat