1
as in control
the ability to direct the course of something
the final decision is in your hands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in enjoyment
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
1
as in provides
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
as in passes
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another
the clerk handed her the receipt
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in leaves
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 hands
Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Consider setting aside grandiose ambitions for the moment and taking a break to do something active with your hands.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
Events were also scheduled throughout the country, with more than 100 in Michigan alone, and what has been described as the flagship event in Minneapolis, scene of the deaths of residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of Immigration officials in separate incidents.
—Paul Eisenberg, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Prodigy is in the hands of Netflix, every other Star Trek show, movie and animation can be watched on Paramount Plus.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 30 Mar. 2026
The playmaker can be dangerous with the ball in his hands.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Wet rungs and soapy hands are a bad combination, so dry your grip frequently.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
Other ethnic groups in the delta, having been subject to violence at the hands of the government soldiers and having witnessed the murder of the Ogoni Nine, concluded that peaceful protests did not produce results, and forceful action was the only way to make the government listen.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
The original statue was toppled by protesters on July 4, 2020, and thrown into Baltimore's Inner Harbor after anger boiled over following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.
—CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
Mazloum will officially succeed D’Amaro next Wednesday, the same day that Bob Iger hands the keys to the kingdom to the next generation of leadership.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
But suspicion softens when someone hands you a plate of food.
—Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 8 Mar. 2026
As for the government’s retreat on electric vehicles, who knows why Americans won’t buy an EV unless the government hands them $7,500?
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
Another actor, named Alex, turns around and hands me his sides.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 Feb. 2026
While Flaherty is visiting, a friend arrives, and Reyna hands her a large black garbage bag of children's clothes for the woman's toddler son.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Polls show that the majority of Ukrainians oppose a deal that hands Moscow land.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
Dad hands me the paper, the certificate of ownership from the National Archives.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
In the clip, shared by @whit_fashionfinds, footage from inside her living room shows her teen on hands and knees pushing clutter across the floor and underneath the couch.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Consider setting aside grandiose ambitions for the moment and taking a break to do something active with your hands.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
Events were also scheduled throughout the country, with more than 100 in Michigan alone, and what has been described as the flagship event in Minneapolis, scene of the deaths of residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of Immigration officials in separate incidents.
—Paul Eisenberg, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Prodigy is in the hands of Netflix, every other Star Trek show, movie and animation can be watched on Paramount Plus.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 30 Mar. 2026
The playmaker can be dangerous with the ball in his hands.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Wet rungs and soapy hands are a bad combination, so dry your grip frequently.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
Other ethnic groups in the delta, having been subject to violence at the hands of the government soldiers and having witnessed the murder of the Ogoni Nine, concluded that peaceful protests did not produce results, and forceful action was the only way to make the government listen.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
The original statue was toppled by protesters on July 4, 2020, and thrown into Baltimore's Inner Harbor after anger boiled over following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.
—CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
Turan hands me off to his roommate, Rory Carmichael, a genial 39-year-old engineer.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
Mazloum will officially succeed D’Amaro next Wednesday, the same day that Bob Iger hands the keys to the kingdom to the next generation of leadership.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
But suspicion softens when someone hands you a plate of food.
—Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 8 Mar. 2026
As for the government’s retreat on electric vehicles, who knows why Americans won’t buy an EV unless the government hands them $7,500?
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
Another actor, named Alex, turns around and hands me his sides.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 Feb. 2026
While Flaherty is visiting, a friend arrives, and Reyna hands her a large black garbage bag of children's clothes for the woman's toddler son.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Polls show that the majority of Ukrainians oppose a deal that hands Moscow land.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
Dad hands me the paper, the certificate of ownership from the National Archives.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hands
Noun
-
As gangs continue to expand and consolidate territorial control, journalists remain in growing danger, according to the commission and other press freedom groups.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The Observer maintains full editorial control of its journalism.—
Ryan Oehrli,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Sized to fit Designers tend to frame the party closet as a feature for your own enjoyment.—
Kelley Bruss,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
My in-destination partners are equipped to handle any unexpected challenges swiftly, maintaining the quality and enjoyment of your travel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Through adoptions, education, outreach, and field services, the shelter provides critical support to promote responsible pet care in the community.—
Janay Reece,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
This extreme volatility provides a critical opportunity for industry leaders to look beyond surface-level price swings and focus on the fundamental constraints actually driving the market.—
Siddharth Misra,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Allen’s hummingbirds are year-round residents in Southern California but the rufous is a rarer visitor that passes through during spring and fall migrations while traveling between winter homes in Mexico to as far north as Alaska in the summer.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Instead, if this bill passes, families would have to drive to a breeder, probably many hours away, or even travel out of state.—
Ed Sayres,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
His death now leaves a void at home and at school.—
Adi Guajardo,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
While Fisher’s athleticism leaves a lot to be desired, his high IQ and ability to diagnose from the middle make up for athletic limitations with an extra step on breaking up an offensive rhythm.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Basic actions like grasp, place, open, and close are linked to objects or positions, forcing the system to connect decisions with the physical world.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Even if Ohtani doesn’t quite reach Cy Young heights, a fourth straight MVP is well within his grasp.—
D.J. Short,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Heat’s zone worked on several second-half possessions, but Miami still allowed too many open threes -- and had too many defensive breakdowns -- when the game was decided in the fourth quarter.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Bush is charged with murder, home invasion and criminal possession of a firearm, and is being held in lieu of a $2 million court set bond.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Qatar makes helium at the Ros Laffan facility and supplies a third of the world’s helium.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The company headquartered in King of Prussia, just outside Philadelphia, is home to the official bat of Major League Baseball — and supplies a few Phillies players with custom bats.—
Nikki DeMentri,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hands. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
