handed

adjective

hand·​ed ˈhan-dəd 

1

: having a hand or hands especially of a specified kind or number

—usually used in combination

a large-handed man

2

: using a specified hand or number of hands

—used in combination

right-handed

a one-handed catch

Examples of handed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Anyone that bought a 2026 regular-season ticket to get a glimpse of MVP-frontrunner A’ja Wilson at Barclays Center went away almost empty handed. — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 9 Aug. 2026

In a 2-2 game, and with Yankees’ right fielder Spencer Jones on third, home plate umpire Dan Merzel was called for a balk while Yankees’ catcher Austin Wells was in the right-handed batter’s box. — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 8 Aug. 2026

There are also likely to be questions on how even-handed Carr will be when faced with a proposal that puts a station owner over the caps. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

So, yes, there’s a reason most of us are right handed and no, dinosaurs have never actually spit venom. — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing handed

• bare-handed
• cack-handed
• empty-handed
• four-handed
• ham-handed
• heavy-handed
• high-handed
• left-handed
• light-handed
• one-handed
• red-handed
• right-handed
• single-handed
• sure-handed
• three-handed
• two-handed

Rhymes for handed

• banded
• branded
• candid
• landed
• sanded
• stranded
• backhanded
• commanded
• demanded
• disbanded
• expanded
• misbranded

Kids Definition

handed

adjective

hand·​ed ˈhan-dəd 

: having or using such or so many hands

a right-handed person

handedness noun

Medical Definition

handed

adjective

hand·​ed ˈhan-dəd 

1

: having a hand or hands especially of a specified kind or number

—usually used in combination

a large-handed man

2

: using a specified hand or number of hands

—used in combination

right-handed