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.
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Recent Examples of hand
Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Ashley is hopeful that their embryo will fertilize, but Austin, trying to buy time, sabotages his sperm sample with hand sanitizer.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Pulido told the crowd, before scratching his signature onto the brim and handing it to Jimena, who pumped it in the air and shrieked with joy.
—Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hand
Noun
Our hands and our minds have got to be engaged.
—Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Ashley is hopeful that their embryo will fertilize, but Austin, trying to buy time, sabotages his sperm sample with hand sanitizer.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
Eunice uses the distraction to hand Austin the USB stick and takes off, jumping on the bed of a moving truck.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Pulido told the crowd, before scratching his signature onto the brim and handing it to Jimena, who pumped it in the air and shrieked with joy.
—Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand
Noun
-
On the other side of the scale, in a vitrine at one end of the space, are a group of five small scrapbooks.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Those improvements include widening of Clay Street, paying for utilities such as water and sewers, and purchasing a home on the west side of the property.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This ancient Chinese practice, now widely used throughout the world, involves insertion of very thin needles into specific points on the skin to treat disease and alleviate pain.—
Dr. Patricia Richard,
Hartford Courant,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Jim said Leo could turn out to be a real needle-mover down the line.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The cuts are required because of employee pay raises, including 23% hikes over three years that were awarded to most workers in 2023, and relatively sluggish growth in city revenue.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
In addition to just being able to identify your luggage to an airline employee, photos also provide peace of mind and evidence for insurance purposes, should anything happen to your bag and what’s inside it.—
Bailey Berg,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Typing is faster, but handwriting hammers home lessons and facilitates deeper learning.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In an era when many kids her age are chasing likes and followers, one 12-year-old is winning the internet’s heart the old-fashioned way — with scissors, glue and her own handwriting.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Taiwan is considering the years-long process of restarting two reactors because of the current crisis, which will require meticulous inspections, safety checks and control system verifications.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
If the former is about the inevitability of falling in love, a complete surrender beyond the speaker’s control, the latter confronts the pain of romantic love’s aftermath.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Wisconsin clearly looked like a fresher team for the first 45 minutes, dominating in both possession time and the shot clock, but Hicks continued to write his incredible story by keeping DU in this one.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
-
But the lead was short-lived as Matisse Thybulle tied it at 82 on Portland’s next possession.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The fighting has pushed many people into famine, caused a huge displacement crisis and left over 30 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Equally impactful, United Way’s WomenRise program provided $500 in cash assistance per month for one year that gave me the autonomy to meet our most immediate needs.—
Delilah Lopez,
Denver Post,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some experts say the animal may have lost its way while swimming after a shoal of herring or during migration.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
But that wasn’t the case thanks to a few expert pats of Charlotte Tilbury’s popular setting powder — a product that’s been in my rotation for years.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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