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

The drill involves recruits elevating their heart rates through calisthenics and then simulating hand-to-hand combat with a physically aggressive suspect while wearing a padded suit for protection. —Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026

Press coverage is a hand-to-hand combat game at the line of scrimmage. —Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026

Adverb

Her ambiguous identity was unusual in a social hierarchy so rigid that there was even a clandestine list, numbered one through sixty: a crumpled piece of notebook paper passed from hand to hand that ranked us according to popularity. —Nell Freudenberger, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026

The stories passed hand to hand, ear to ear, breath to breath. —Maya Al Zaben, Literary Hub, 26 Jan. 2026

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