ˈhan(d)-tə-ˈhand 
ˈhan-də-
: involving physical contact or close enough range for physical contact
hand-to-hand fighting
: at very close range
Examples of hand-to-hand in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025
Here was fought a strenuous trench and hand-to-hand battle between German defenders and Russian attackers.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2025
Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 10 July 2015
To his left, the spot where roaring rioters and outnumbered police officers fought hand to hand.
—Dan Barry, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hand-to-hand
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Adjective
The director even goes as far as removing David Holmes’ score during the hand-to-hand combat scenes.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025
Here was fought a strenuous trench and hand-to-hand battle between German defenders and Russian attackers.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2025
Adverb
Will these designs even work for hand to hand combat?
—Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 10 July 2015
To his left, the spot where roaring rioters and outnumbered police officers fought hand to hand.
—Dan Barry, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hand-to-hand
Cite this Entry
“Hand-to-hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hand-to-hand. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.
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