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
Anthony HollingsworthExamples of on the one hand in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The tension between tech innovation and accessibility on the one hand, and authenticity on the other, will remain.
—Krysta Escobar, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2025
While the film is a sexy, frothy romp, on the one hand, the film also casts Doris Day as Babe, a feisty union steward.
—Kathy M. Newman, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
What’s going on is, on the one hand, mysterious and, on the other hand, straightforward.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 23 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
See All Example Sentences for on the one hand
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.
Krysta Escobar, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2025
While the film is a sexy, frothy romp, on the one hand, the film also casts Doris Day as Babe, a feisty union steward.
—Kathy M. Newman, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
What’s going on is, on the one hand, mysterious and, on the other hand, straightforward.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 23 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
See All Example Sentences for on the one hand
Cite this Entry
“On the one hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20one%20hand. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share