on the one hand

idiom

variants or on one hand
used to introduce a statement that is followed by another contrasting statement which is typically introduced with on the other hand
On the one hand, I think the price is fair, but on the other hand, I really can't afford to spend that much money.
On one hand, there is the historical, real person—George Washington the President—but on the other hand, there is the legendary person—George Washington the cherry-tree chopper.Anthony Hollingsworth

Examples of on the one hand 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.
The cyclical companies win two ways from cuts, benefiting on the one hand from improved market sentiment as financial conditions loosen, and on the other from brighter prospects for consumer spending. Alex Harring, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025 Turnier noted that lawmakers had considered the move in previous years, citing problems with enforcement (on the one hand) and the prospect of a revenue increase (on the other). Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025 Leskovec agreed when asked about the skills gap that appears to be facing entry-level workers trying to get hired, on the one hand, and companies struggling to effectively implement AI. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025 There are exceptions, and there are always legal disputes about the rule, but 50+1 guarantees a healthy balance between the necessary capitalist approach of professional clubs on the one hand and members and fans on the other. Philipp Lahm, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for on the one hand

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“On the one hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20one%20hand. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on on the one hand

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!