1
as in control
the ability to direct the course of something
the final decision is in your hands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in enjoyment
the fact or state of having (something) at one's disposal
I'd like to get my hands on that vintage Cadillac convertible
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in provides
to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption
was happy to hand her grandmother's cookie recipes to the parish ladies to put in their cookbook
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in passes
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another
the clerk handed her the receipt
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in leaves
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another
handed me her bundles while she fished for her house keys
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of hands
Tonya Simpson, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
If the fanbase for the book series is any indication, Mirren has a popular new franchise on her hands.
—H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
By the time the misery was over, Skubal walked toward the dugout, took a hard seat on the bench and clasped his hands.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
The Broncos played all but South Carolina last year and enjoyed mixed results — a 5-0 loss at the hands of eventual national champions TCU was accompanied by a pair of victories over Arizona (3-2, 3-2), and one loss apiece against Arizona State (3-2) and Florida State (4-1).
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 24 Sep. 2025
The girls were found dead on June 2 with plastic bags over their heads and evidence that their hands had been zip-tied near their father's truck.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
One week later, they were seen holding hands once again following a dinner in Los Angeles.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
The Friends alum wore a matching black ensemble with the taupe leather crossbody bag, keeping her hands free while walking in New York City last month.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 24 Sep. 2025
These wearables blend moving analog watch hands with a screen.
—Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Melanie Draheim, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The viral video, shared by @emookitkats in August, shows the black and white cat feeding her lookalike babies when, out of nowhere, her owner hands her a small orange kitten that is clearly not one of hers.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The scandal also hands fresh ammunition to Nigel Farage’s far-right Reform Party, which is already leading in the polls.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Myke hands her her acoustic guitar and gives her a kiss.
—Allison P. Davis, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
Prater hands Dexter a knife to facilitate Batista’s slaying.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Indianapolis and Tennessee round out the bottom of the AFC South, with the Colts turning the page on the Anthony Richardson era and giving Daniel Jones the reins, while Tennessee hands the keys to first overall pick Cam Ward.
—Austin Mock, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
But Democrats should hold off on gleefully penciling in 2028 as the year AI hands them the keys to the White House in perpetuity.
—Matt K. Lewis, Twin Cities, 19 Aug. 2025
Gloria hands $500 to Lynette before heading out for the night.
—Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
Htoo managed to wrestle the knife away from his attacker, but not before sustaining deep lacerations to his shoulder, neck and hands.
—Tonya Simpson, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
If the fanbase for the book series is any indication, Mirren has a popular new franchise on her hands.
—H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
By the time the misery was over, Skubal walked toward the dugout, took a hard seat on the bench and clasped his hands.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
The Broncos played all but South Carolina last year and enjoyed mixed results — a 5-0 loss at the hands of eventual national champions TCU was accompanied by a pair of victories over Arizona (3-2, 3-2), and one loss apiece against Arizona State (3-2) and Florida State (4-1).
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 24 Sep. 2025
The girls were found dead on June 2 with plastic bags over their heads and evidence that their hands had been zip-tied near their father's truck.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
One week later, they were seen holding hands once again following a dinner in Los Angeles.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
The Friends alum wore a matching black ensemble with the taupe leather crossbody bag, keeping her hands free while walking in New York City last month.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 24 Sep. 2025
These wearables blend moving analog watch hands with a screen.
—Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
For example, someone offers you a step stool and hands you the light bulb.
—Melanie Draheim, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The viral video, shared by @emookitkats in August, shows the black and white cat feeding her lookalike babies when, out of nowhere, her owner hands her a small orange kitten that is clearly not one of hers.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The scandal also hands fresh ammunition to Nigel Farage’s far-right Reform Party, which is already leading in the polls.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Myke hands her her acoustic guitar and gives her a kiss.
—Allison P. Davis, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
Prater hands Dexter a knife to facilitate Batista’s slaying.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Indianapolis and Tennessee round out the bottom of the AFC South, with the Colts turning the page on the Anthony Richardson era and giving Daniel Jones the reins, while Tennessee hands the keys to first overall pick Cam Ward.
—Austin Mock, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
But Democrats should hold off on gleefully penciling in 2028 as the year AI hands them the keys to the White House in perpetuity.
—Matt K. Lewis, Twin Cities, 19 Aug. 2025
Gloria hands $500 to Lynette before heading out for the night.
—Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hands
Noun
-
Some of that was out of Gibson’s control as the Ducks’ defense eroded in front of him.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Beginning October 12, 2025, the 29 nations of the European Schengen Area will start phasing out the stamping of travel documents and instead will switch to a new digital Entry/Exit System (EES), which the European Union argues will accelerate border-control processes and improve security.—
Bailey Berg,
AFAR Media,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This should look like living your values (such as honesty, vulnerability, respect, enjoyment, curiosity, tenacity, risk-taking and learning from mistakes) every single day.—
Bill Flederbach,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
For example, the concept of nuisance, which has a long history in common law, protects the use and enjoyment of residents’ homes from indirect harms.—
Adam Summers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At an elevation of 1,680 feet, this prime leaf-peeping spot provides a view of three states and seven counties.—
Dave Parfitt,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Throughout the book, Harris provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse into her historic sprint for the White House.—
Sydney Topf,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Uber is also making both these passes available for its teen accounts.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Temperatures are expected to dip into the lower 70s in the hottest places by Wednesday and stay there even after the rain passes and the weekend arrives, the weather service forecast.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That leaves a bigger trail for criminals to exploit.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
21 Sep. 2025
-
That leaves rescues and smaller nonprofits to fill the gap for cases like Christopher's, where a vulnerable kitten requires immediate, hands-on care.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And their grasp of how billions of neurons and trillions of synaptic connections interact to form individual minds continues to deepen.—
Kevin Dickinson,
Big Think,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Baker’s synaesthesiac grasp of the tawny’s song, in which its voice can ruffle the fur of night and in which silence is luminous, may be reflected in the neural structure of the owl’s brain.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Pressing less, fewer long spells of possession, quicker to work the ball through the thirds.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Reports have emerged of individuals quitting their jobs, selling possessions, and even pulling children out of school in preparation for the event.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Raw garlic contains more allicin, while cooked garlic still supplies antioxidants and other beneficial compounds.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Verywell Health,
23 Sep. 2025
-
GoPro supplies a pair of lens caps for the Max 2 that fit snuggly over each lens and have a small tab on them to make removing them easier.—
Craig Wilson,
PC Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hands. Accessed 25 Sep. 2025.
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