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Definition of handnext
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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

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as in needle
an arrow-shaped piece on a dial or scale for registering information both hands of the clock pointed to 12

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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

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hand

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verb

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as in to pass
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another the clerk handed her the receipt

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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
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
The case changes hands Meanwhile, the detective who initially investigated Harris’ killing retired from CPD. Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026 Students walking up from nearby schools were handed signs and took position on the steps of City Hall. Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 30 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
  • Pages and pages filled with Katharine’s small, neat handwriting.
    Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Morales Reyes does not fluently speak or write in English, and a sample of his handwriting did not match, Milwaukee Police Detective Timothy Keller testified.
    Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 27 Jan. 2026
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
  • Olivia Olson, who had 23 points, made a three-point play and three-pointer on consecutive possessions and Syla Swords followed with a layup to help the Wolverines (19-3, 10-1 Big Ten) pull away with an eight-point lead in OT.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
  • Jackson was charged with a felony for simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm and felony drug possession.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 2 Feb. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

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