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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

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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
But in the finale, Deborah confesses that her hands are bigger than Ava’s. Michael Schneider, Variety, 29 May 2026 As the snakes leap, jump and slither in a bid to escape, Kennedy manages to grab one in each hand, narrowly dodging their attempts to snag a mouthful of his skin. Drew Pittock, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Verb
Mika Hakkinen’s hydraulics failure at the 2001 Spanish Grand Prix happened on the final lap, handing the win to his arch rival and that year’s eventual champion, Michael Schumacher. Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026 At the end of the presentation, a woman hands the hitmaker a bouquet of flowers as the star waves to the crowd and dances. Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for hand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand
Noun
  • Accessibility An accessible room is found in the Hartford Wing on the garden side.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 May 2026
  • Add sandals for a beach day and heels for a night of ocean-side spritzes.
    Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • The back-to-back deals offer one of the clearest signals yet that Abel is prepared to put Berkshire’s enormous balance sheet to work after years of criticism that the company had become too cautious and was struggling to find opportunities large enough to move the needle.
    Yun Li, CNBC, 2 June 2026
  • So instead of experimenting with potentially dangerous sleep-optimization practices or wasting time on hacks that don’t move the needle, try leaning into what sleep experts have been saying for years — practice good sleep hygiene.
    Sharon Brandwein, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • The nine missing people are all employees of the mill.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 29 May 2026
  • The union also pointed to data that the state published shortly after adopting telework during the COVID-19 pandemic, celebrating how remote work decreased Californian’s emissions and saved state employees’ money.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • But my handwriting is terrible, so if anyone tried to read them, there's not a chance.
    Eileen Finan, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
  • The Secret Service conducted a handwriting comparison analysis of the words, which led to the arrest of David Hoffman.
    Phillip M. Carter, The Conversation, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • Shoppers swear by the Supa Modern Cooling Pillows to keep night sweats and hot flashes under control.
    Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
  • Each chemical reaction produced even more heat and raised the risk of a process called thermal runaway, when a reaction becomes out of control.
    Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) previously said Roberts had a criminal history that included a narcotics possession offense.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
  • Oppenheimer, 35 of Cambridge, was arrested in July 2024 and pleaded guilty in January to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of wire fraud.
    Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • Congressional assistance in the bid to fix college sports could be headed back to the drawing board.
    Fisher Isbell, AJC.com, 3 June 2026
  • Only one person at a time can occupy a voting booth, unless a voter is accompanied by a child or is eligible to receive assistance, the California Secretary of State’s Office said.
    Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • Alessandro Bastoni has had a 2026 to forget — but our experts still think the Inter man is worth top dollar.
    Phil Hay, New York Times, 28 May 2026
  • But experts for years have said companies have not learned from past mistakes.
    Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.

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