often attributive
1
a(1)
: the terminal part of the vertebrate forelimb when modified (as in humans) as a grasping organ : the body part at the end of the arm of a human, ape, or monkey
holding a pair of scissors in his hand
She put her hands over her eyes.
(2)
: the forelimb segment (such as the terminal section of a bird's wing) of a vertebrate higher than the fishes that corresponds to the hand irrespective of its form or functional specialization
b
: something resembling a hand: such as
(1)
: an indicator or pointer on a dial
the hands of a clock
(3)
: a cluster of bananas developed from a single flower group
(4)
: a branched rootstock of ginger
(5)
: a bunch of large leaves (as of tobacco) tied together usually with another leaf
c
: a part serving the function of or resembling a hand: such as
(1)
: the hind foot of an ape
(2)
: the chela of a crustacean
2
a
: personal possession
—usually used in plural
The documents fell into the hands of the enemy.
b
: control, supervision
—usually used in plural
left the matter in her hands
3
4
a
: assistance or aid especially involving physical effort
lend a hand
b
: participation, interest
had no hand in the decision
c
: a round of applause
Let's give them a big hand.
6
: a pledge especially of betrothal or bestowal in marriage
He asked for her hand in marriage.
7
a(1)
: the cards or pieces held by a player
studied her hand
(2)
: a player in a card game or board game
b
: a single round in a game
lost the first hand but won the next two
c
: the force or solidity of one's position (as in negotiations)
trying to strengthen their hand
8
b
: a member of a ship's crew
All hands on deck!
c
: a person who performs or executes a particular work
two portraits by the same hand
d
: a person skilled in a particular action or pursuit
a great hand at carpentry
e
: a specialist or veteran in a usually designated activity or region
a Latin America hand
9
a
: style of execution : workmanship
the hand of a master
c
: the feel of or tactile reaction to something (such as silk or leather)
10
a
: style of penmanship : handwriting
wrote in a fancy hand
b
11
: a unit of measure equal to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters) used especially for the height of horses
a horse that is 15 hands high
12
: a punch made with a specified hand
knocked him out with a good right hand
handed; handing; hands
1
a
: to give, pass, or transmit with the hand
hand a letter to her
b
: to present or provide with
handed him a surprise
2
: to lead, guide, or assist with the hand
hand a lady into a bus
: with the hands rather than by machine
hand stitched
Phrases
at hand
1
: near in time or place : within reach
use whatever ingredients are at hand
2
: currently receiving or deserving attention
the business at hand
: by or through the action of
suffering at the hands of a cruel dictator
1
: with the hands or a hand-worked implement (such as a tool or pen) rather than with a machine
2
: from one individual directly to another
deliver the document by hand
1
: in one's possession or control
had matters well in hand
with money in hand
2
: in preparation
a new play in hand
3
: under consideration
took the matter in hand
: everywhere
could hear scurrying noises on all hands
1
: in present possession or readily available
kept supplies on hand
2
: in attendance : present
A priest was on hand to console them.
3
: about to appear : pending
There was trouble on hand.
: in one's possession or care
too much time on my hands
1
: out of control
They let the situation get out of hand.
2
: without delay or deliberation
also
: in a summary or peremptory manner
rejected the plan out of hand
3
: done with : finished
4
: with the hands
fruit eaten out of hand
1
: within reach
weapons ready to hand
2
: into possession
The letter … has come to hand …—
George Washington
George Washington
: to give credit to : concede the excellence of
I have to hand it to him. He did a wonderful job.
Synonyms
Examples of hand in a Sentence
Noun
These gloves will keep your hands warm.
She put her hands over her eyes.
He sat quietly with his hands folded in his lap.
Do you need a hand?
Verb
was happy to hand her grandmother's cookie recipes to the parish ladies to put in their cookbook
the clerk handed her the receipt
Recent Examples on the WebS. I. Rosenbaum, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2024
That guy Nilsson came back to hand Cathedral Catholic’s Vince Atilano a setback in the 300 hurdles where Atilano ran a section season-best 37.42 in second.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
The two actors laid out a green yoga mat, with hand sanitizer nearby, and invited friends to share in celebrating Patel's milestone birthday at a safe distance, of course.
—Emily St. Martin, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Some models offer dishwasher-safe tanks, while others are hand wash-only.
Features
Whether its LED lights, sleep modes, or essential oil diffusers, humidifiers may include any number of extra features to boost their functionality.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2024
Documents obtained by Hell Gate reveal what Adams failed to disclose at a press conference last week: that data already in the city’s hands show the technology is only rarely useful.
—Dell Cameron Andrew Couts, WIRED, 6 Apr. 2024
League’s head and hands were removed and positioned near his legs, according to court documents.
—Madeline Nguyen, The Arizona Republic, 6 Apr. 2024
The observers appeared to enjoy the competition, jumping, waving hands and cheering with excitement.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
When customers place their orders, all of the dough is freshly made and hand rolled, cut, fried, and dressed to order.
—Jenny Rudolph, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2024
Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
Kestrel pulled out her old driver’s license and handed it to Knoll.
—Casey Parks, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
The Giants went from having runners at second and third and nobody out to one man on and one out, walking away from the inning empty handed after Yastrzemski went down swinging with Chapman 90 feet away from home plate.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
Getting the overhaul wrong would mean companies and consumers foot a huge multi-trillion-euro bill for the green transition while handing an edge to China and the US.
—Ewa Krukowska, Fortune Europe, 5 Apr. 2024
Maybe handing Goddard the keys to the Nebuchadnezzar provides an opportunity to make a Matrix with a little more mass appeal.
—Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
The results of the vote handed Peltz a resounding defeat.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
As one staff member opened my car door and another grabbed my luggage, I was handed a delicious welcome drink made of rum and lemongrass before being escorted into the main building, once the home of the Roe family.
—Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2024
Conscription has been a sensitive matter in Ukraine for many months amid a growing shortage of infantry on top of a severe ammunition shortfall that has handed Russia the battlefield initiative.
—Reuters, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Ben Adler, The New Republic, 13 Apr. 2020
The two phenomena go hand-in-hand: The Arctic Oscillation is positive because the polar vortex is strong.
—Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2020
The developments come a day after the managers hand-delivered the articles of impeachment, adopted by the House in December, to the Senate after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., signed them in a historic engrossment ceremony.
—NBC News, 16 Jan. 2020
One shop sold stuffed toys made to look hand-woven, as if a wry old local was out back sewing Ewok dolls.
—BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2019
His vision is carried on by three generations of his family who hand-pick grapes to make homemade wine.
—Verna Gates, al, 19 Sep. 2019
Food that’s healthy for people and healthy for the environment go hand-in-hand.
—Anne Schamberg, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2019
For the next election, all of L.A. County will be ditching the previous system where voters hand-marked ballots for a system where computers will aid in the marking process.
—Lila Seidman, Glendale News-Press, 3 Oct. 2019
Half the fun is perusing the lengthy cocktail list, designed to look hand-scrawled and presented in a small binder.
—Paul Hodgins, Daily Pilot, 25 Sep. 2019
Noun
It’s taken decades for BCI tech to get to this point—decades of scientists building prototypes by hand and of volunteers who could neither move nor speak struggling to control them.
—S. I. Rosenbaum, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2024
That guy Nilsson came back to hand Cathedral Catholic’s Vince Atilano a setback in the 300 hurdles where Atilano ran a section season-best 37.42 in second.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
The two actors laid out a green yoga mat, with hand sanitizer nearby, and invited friends to share in celebrating Patel's milestone birthday at a safe distance, of course.
—Emily St. Martin, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Some models offer dishwasher-safe tanks, while others are hand wash-only.
Features
Whether its LED lights, sleep modes, or essential oil diffusers, humidifiers may include any number of extra features to boost their functionality.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2024
Documents obtained by Hell Gate reveal what Adams failed to disclose at a press conference last week: that data already in the city’s hands show the technology is only rarely useful.
—Dell Cameron Andrew Couts, WIRED, 6 Apr. 2024
League’s head and hands were removed and positioned near his legs, according to court documents.
—Madeline Nguyen, The Arizona Republic, 6 Apr. 2024
The observers appeared to enjoy the competition, jumping, waving hands and cheering with excitement.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
When customers place their orders, all of the dough is freshly made and hand rolled, cut, fried, and dressed to order.
—Jenny Rudolph, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2024
Verb
Advertising aside, Episode 8 marks the first time this season that judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie sit back and hand the reins to ABC viewers, who can have their say in who stays and who goes by texting their votes.
—Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
Kestrel pulled out her old driver’s license and handed it to Knoll.
—Casey Parks, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
The Giants went from having runners at second and third and nobody out to one man on and one out, walking away from the inning empty handed after Yastrzemski went down swinging with Chapman 90 feet away from home plate.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
Getting the overhaul wrong would mean companies and consumers foot a huge multi-trillion-euro bill for the green transition while handing an edge to China and the US.
—Ewa Krukowska, Fortune Europe, 5 Apr. 2024
Maybe handing Goddard the keys to the Nebuchadnezzar provides an opportunity to make a Matrix with a little more mass appeal.
—Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
The results of the vote handed Peltz a resounding defeat.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
As one staff member opened my car door and another grabbed my luggage, I was handed a delicious welcome drink made of rum and lemongrass before being escorted into the main building, once the home of the Roe family.
—Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2024
Conscription has been a sensitive matter in Ukraine for many months amid a growing shortage of infantry on top of a severe ammunition shortfall that has handed Russia the battlefield initiative.
—Reuters, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Adverb
And putting money in people’s pockets goes hand-in-hand with social distancing policies, by defraying some of the costs of closing non-essential businesses, which in turn threatens the reliable paychecks of thousands of workers.
—Ben Adler, The New Republic, 13 Apr. 2020
The two phenomena go hand-in-hand: The Arctic Oscillation is positive because the polar vortex is strong.
—Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2020
The developments come a day after the managers hand-delivered the articles of impeachment, adopted by the House in December, to the Senate after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., signed them in a historic engrossment ceremony.
—NBC News, 16 Jan. 2020
One shop sold stuffed toys made to look hand-woven, as if a wry old local was out back sewing Ewok dolls.
—BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2019
His vision is carried on by three generations of his family who hand-pick grapes to make homemade wine.
—Verna Gates, al, 19 Sep. 2019
Food that’s healthy for people and healthy for the environment go hand-in-hand.
—Anne Schamberg, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2019
For the next election, all of L.A. County will be ditching the previous system where voters hand-marked ballots for a system where computers will aid in the marking process.
—Lila Seidman, Glendale News-Press, 3 Oct. 2019
Half the fun is perusing the lengthy cocktail list, designed to look hand-scrawled and presented in a small binder.
—Paul Hodgins, Daily Pilot, 25 Sep. 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hand.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hand
Cite this Entry
“Hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hand. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hand
1 of 2 noun1
a
: the free end part of the arm or forelimb when used (as in human beings) for handling, grasping, and holding
b
: any of various bodily parts (as the hind foot of an ape or the pincers of a crab) that are like the hand in structure or function
2
: something resembling a hand: as
a
: a pointer on a dial
b
: a figure of a hand with index finger extended to point something out
c
: a bunch of bananas
3
: personal possession : control
in the hands of the enemy
4
a
: side entry 1 sense 2, direction
fighting on either hand
b
: a side or point of view in an issue or argument
on the one hand, we can declare a tie, or on the other hand, keep playing
5
: a pledge especially of marriage
asked for her hand
7
: skill sense 1, ability
try one's hand at chess
8
a
: assistance or help involving physical effort
lend a hand
b
: a part or share in doing something
take a hand in the work
9
: a unit of measure equal to 4 inches (about 10.2 centimeters) used especially for the height of horses
10
: a round of applause
give him a hand
11
a
: the cards or pieces held by a player in a game
b
: a single round in a game
12
a
: one who performs or produces a work
two portraits by the same hand
b
: a hired worker
c
: a member of a ship's crew
all hands on deck
d
: one skilled in a particular activity or field
an old hand at foreign affairs
13
: workmanship sense 2
the hand of a master
hand
2 of 2 verb1
: to guide or assist with the hand
2
: to give or pass with or as if with the hand
hand a person a letter
Medical Definition
hand
nounoften attributive
1
a(1)
: the terminal part of the vertebrate forelimb when modified (as in humans) as a grasping organ
(2)
: the forelimb segment (as the terminal section of a bird's wing) of a vertebrate higher than the fishes that corresponds to the hand irrespective of its form or functional specialization
b
: a part serving the function of or resembling a hand
especially
: the hind foot of an ape
c
: something resembling a hand
especially
: an indicator or pointer on a dial
2
: a unit of measure equal to 4 inches or 10.2 centimeters used especially for the height of horses
Biographical Definition
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