by hand

phrase

1
: with the hands or a hand-worked implement (such as a tool or pen) rather than with a machine
2
: from one individual directly to another
deliver the document by hand

Examples of by hand in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
If traditional practice requires garments to be assessed by hand, Fleek Sort just needs a picture. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 9 July 2026 On Friday, someone reopens the dashboards, reallocates budget by hand in 20-minute increments stolen between meetings and writes a learning into a doc that may or may not get reused. — Marvin Abdel-Massih, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 The second involved filling a salad spinner with water and immersing the berries for one minute while stirring them by hand before draining and spinning them for 10 seconds. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 7 July 2026 With production capped at 80 units in total, final assembly of each 21C is performed largely by hand at Czinger’s Area 21 facility in Torrance, California. — Bradley Iger, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for by hand

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of by hand was before the 12th century

Rhymes for by hand

See All Rhymes for by hand

Browse Nearby Words

by halves
by hand
by heart
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“By hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20hand. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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