1
as in side
a certain way in which something appears or may be regarded
on the one hand, you would have more storage space in a larger house, but on the other, you would have more rooms to heat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in flank
a place, space, or direction away from or beyond a central point or line
tall buildings rose on either hand nothing but wide open space on either hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in employee
one who works for another for wages or a salary
the restaurant always hires several more hands for the busy summer season
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in handwriting
the form or style of a particular person's writing
writes with a flowing, old-fashioned hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in control
usually hands plural
the ability to direct the course of something
the final decision is in your hands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in possession
hands plural
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
8
as in assistance
an act or instance of helping
the downstairs tenant gave us a hand getting the heavy dresser up the stairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in expert
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
once she got her own place, the young woman showed that she was quite a hand at interior decoration
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in signature
a person's name written in their own handwriting often given to indicate awareness or consent
the subpoena required a lawyer's hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to provide
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
3
as in to leave
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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hand
Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 29 Jan. 2026
There are visuals of long arms, hands, being athletic.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
When his last coalition collapsed in 2023 in a dispute over reining in migration, Rutte again leaned on that image, driving an old Saab station wagon to a royal palace to hand his resignation to King Willem-Alexander.
—Mike Corder, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hand
Noun
Charli xcx, Chappell Roan and Teyana Taylor are just a few of the musicians who will be on hand to present at the Grammy Awards this Sunday.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 29 Jan. 2026
There are visuals of long arms, hands, being athletic.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
After a few minutes of questioning, one of the volunteers handed him a gift card.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
When his last coalition collapsed in 2023 in a dispute over reining in migration, Rutte again leaned on that image, driving an old Saab station wagon to a royal palace to hand his resignation to King Willem-Alexander.
—Mike Corder, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand
Noun
-
Even if the two sides strike a deal, negotiations down the road on a final agreement on the Homeland Security bill are likely to be difficult.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Iran’s internet connectivity has been partially restored, but experts are warning that, even on the other side of the digital blackout, the outlook for Iranian internet access remains bleak.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In the Baylor study, participants watched a video of a hand being stabbed with a needle.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Adi turned away as the needle found its vein, scanning the other man for a reaction but finding none.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Test your news knowledge with this week's Fox News Digital News Quiz, in which former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick faces a major snub, and Virginia Commonwealth University fires an employee after ICE videos.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In an environment where most employees already lack the time or energy to do their jobs, treating responsiveness as a core leadership trait doesn’t create momentum.—
Dilan Gomih,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Script is finding new life in after-school clubs where students can learn to loop and swoosh their handwriting.—
Karina Elwood,
Washington Post,
3 Jan. 2026
-
This is also not the voice that was oblivious to what the newspapers and the magazines of the time said about her, or the letters in handwriting that meandered like tendrils on a vine.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Extreme heat fuels out of control bushfires Bushfires, fueled by the soaring temperatures, have menaced towns in the state of Victoria, prompting evacuations as volunteer firefighters attempted to douse flames around homes.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The Caribbean island once relied heavily on oil shipments from Venezuela, but that supply was cut off when the United States asserted control over the South American nation this month.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Zubimendi won possession 12 times during that match — the most by any Arsenal player in a game this season.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Troopers also seized an unregistered gun and ammunition from Cook, who is charged with trafficking 200 grams or more of cocaine, as well as unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Photorealistic traffic environments allow drivers to test displays and assistance features in context.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The investigation is being led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations under Special Agents in Charge Mark Zito and Jason Todd Stevens, with assistance from the FBI, according to multiple officials briefed on the case.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The expert is also a proponent of boosting fiber intake, noting that the daily goal for adults is between 25 and 35 grams per day.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Officials in Minnesota, along with criminal justice experts and former federal prosecutors, are increasingly critical of the federal response to the aggressive tactics being used by immigration officers in Minneapolis and the surrounding area.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
