1
as in side
a certain way in which something appears or may be regarded
on the one hand, you would have more storage space in a larger house, but on the other, you would have more rooms to heat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
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
3
4
as in employee
one who works for another for wages or a salary
the restaurant always hires several more hands for the busy summer season
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in handwriting
the form or style of a particular person's writing
writes with a flowing, old-fashioned hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in control
usually hands plural
the ability to direct the course of something
the final decision is in your hands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in possession
hands plural
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
8
as in assistance
an act or instance of helping
the downstairs tenant gave us a hand getting the heavy dresser up the stairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in expert
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
once she got her own place, the young woman showed that she was quite a hand at interior decoration
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to provide
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
3
as in to leave
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.
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Recent Examples of hand
Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
Each change is affected by the conditions at hand.
—Brad Stulberg, Outside, 26 Mar. 2026
Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 26 Mar. 2026
By the way, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act worsened the outlook by handing seniors a big tax break on their Social Security income, money that was previously helping replenish the trust fund.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hand
Noun
One was photographed holding his hand near his forehead, shielding his face.
—Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
Each change is affected by the conditions at hand.
—Brad Stulberg, Outside, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
The judge's decision, in effect, handed Brian Groen, the attorney for LVNV, a win.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 26 Mar. 2026
By the way, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act worsened the outlook by handing seniors a big tax break on their Social Security income, money that was previously helping replenish the trust fund.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand
Noun
-
About half of the vessels turn off radio identification systems that show their location before going through, and reappear on the other side in the Gulf of Oman.—
David McHugh,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Authorities say large portions of concrete are impacting both sides of the freeway.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
What's different – beyond the material in question – is the use of a triangular needle tip that avoids cutting through the wood fibers when threading through them, and nylon yarn that's strong yet flexible.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Very little moves the needle between the flurry of free agent signings, trades and the draft, but this story deserves your attention.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And all were linked to individuals in Argentina with modest financial backgrounds—a pharmacy employee, a shop worker, a bankrupt businessman—people with no visible connection to multimillion-dollar financial operations.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The employees of Rockin’ Grandma’s roam the grounds of the retreat site, which boasts multiple structures, and are visited by a series of guest speakers whose lectures range from the merely dull to the truly Dada.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In an era when many kids her age are chasing likes and followers, one 12-year-old is winning the internet’s heart the old-fashioned way — with scissors, glue and her own handwriting.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Kenerson's after-school club is a local example of a nationwide trend — cursive handwriting is back in many classrooms across the country.—
Ava Berger,
NPR,
19 Mar. 2026
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
-
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
Noun
-
The bill carves out a number of exceptions, including for people providing medical assistance or helping law enforcement.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Features like heart rate sensing and hearing assistance add a layer of everyday usefulness, and the seamless Bluetooth pairing keeps things simple across devices.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Elder law experts warn that the best protection against uncertainty, exploitation or government infringement of your independence is to plan ahead, early and often.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
For its 310 students and more than 80 children from infants to toddlers, Greenland represents a second chance at school that is free from stigma and, experts say, a model for how young mothers can be reintegrated into education.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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