Synonyms of at hand

at hand

phrase

1

as in near

not being distant in time, space, or significance

We sat down to address the issue at hand.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• near
• immediate
• close
• to hand
• nearby
• neighboring
• next-door
• proximate
• adjacent
• close-up
• convenient
• forthcoming
• handy
• coming
• contiguous
• upcoming
• nigh
• accessible
• adjoining
• bordering
• approaching
• oncoming
• abutting
• hand-to-hand
• close-in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• away
• far
• deep
• remote
• distant
• far-off
• faraway
• removed
• separated
• divorced

2

as in accessible

situated within easy reach

She always keeps a water bottle near at hand.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• accessible
• convenient
• to hand
• adjacent
• handy
• reachable
• close
• nearby
• near
• adjoining
• obtainable
• abutting
• attainable
• nigh
• getatable
• approachable
• ultraconvenient

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• away
• inconvenient
• far
• remote
• inaccessible
• distant
• untouchable
• unreachable
• removed
• far-off
• faraway
• unhandy
• unavailable
• unattainable
• unapproachable
• unobtainable

3

as in upcoming

being soon to appear or take place

The time to act is close at hand.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• upcoming
• approaching
• coming
• impending
• forthcoming
• on hand
• imminent
• pending
• to come
• future
• proximate
• nearing
• oncoming
• on tap
• expected
• predicted
• anticipated
• awaited
• foreseen

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recent
• late
• other
• past
• old
• former
• sometime
• erstwhile
• bygone
• onetime
• whilom
• quondam
• foregone

4

as in in

at, within, or to a short distance or time

They live in a second-floor apartment with several shops and restaurants at hand.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• in
• near
• nearby
• close
• by
• around
• hard
• within call
• at close quarters
• on one's doorstep
• nigh
• hereaway
• along
• alongside
• hereabouts
• thereabouts
• conveniently
• handily
• accessibly

5

as in present

being within the confines of a specified place

They had several nurses at hand in case anything went wrong.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• in
• present
• available
• attending
• on hand
• in attendance
• participating
• accompanying
• existing
• live
• observing
• breathing
• latent
• existent
• extant
• abounding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• away
• out
• absent
• missing
• gone
• departed
• retired
• dead
• late
• deceased
• lost
• nonexistent
• defunct
• vanished
• delayed
• overdue
• truant
• AWOL
• delinquent
• demised
• belated
• tardy

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of at hand

On Saturday, Loya Chávez was careful to say that the issue at hand was not the drug raid itself, but rather the participation of US officials outside the bounds of Mexican law. — Mauricio Torres, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026

Writing in the 1880s, with no satellite photos at hand, Parkman borrowed the point of view of a flock of Canada geese flying north from Albany. — James Whorton Jr, Longreads, 13 Oct. 2026

And now, with owner-in-waiting Justin Ishbia planning to build a new ballpark in the South Loop, the end days of Rate Field are probably at hand. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Those sympathetic to the movement argue that’s not the case — and that there was never a binary choice at hand between progressive ideology and the ideas abundance advocates stand for. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026