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
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
Wearing only a short nightgown, Janet was face down in bed, her hands tied behind her back with the tie from her own bathrobe.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Michael Carrick handed first-team opportunities to Amad Diallo, Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee, perhaps with a view to making a judgement on their future ahead of the summer transfer window.
—Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hand
Noun
That technology is only effective in the hands of sailors trained to operate and maintain it, which is where the schoolhouse comes in, according to Lawrence Averion, directed energy branch manager.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
Wearing only a short nightgown, Janet was face down in bed, her hands tied behind her back with the tie from her own bathrobe.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Verb
The Niners were handed the easiest schedule in recent NFL history for the 2025 campaign.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Michael Carrick handed first-team opportunities to Amad Diallo, Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee, perhaps with a view to making a judgement on their future ahead of the summer transfer window.
—Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand
Noun
-
At the most recent debate, hosted by NBC4 and Telemundo 52 on May 6, the seven candidates again clashed over housing and immigration, while Becerra and Steyer faced fierce attacks from both sides of the political spectrum, The Los Angeles Times reported.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
These are two elite teams led by masterminds on opposite sides of the ball in Kyle Shanahan and Mike Macdonald.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Flowers completely cover the needle-like foliage, carpeting the garden in vibrant pink, purple, and violet-red blooms.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
19 May 2026
-
While Minnesota could use a true point guard to pair next to Edwards, that may not be a big enough needle mover to close what currently resembles a Grand Canyon-sized gap between Minnesota and the conference’s top two teams.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
The court recommended that the petition be dismissed, and that the organizations be given one month to submit the employee lists.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
Nine were arrested, including two museum employees, several tour guides, and the alleged mastermind.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Our approach from the very start was choosing projects wisely to have a very specific slate that allows people to see our kind of handwriting.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
-
There remained his oil paintings and the many books marked by his handwriting in the margins—now mere traces of him.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
To take an example that would be potentially devastating to the Republicans, imagine that the Democrats took full control of the state government in Georgia.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
Private equity companies would be banned from investing in youth sports teams, leagues, facilities and events under a new federal bill, a move lawmakers say would lower participation costs for families and restore control of a public good to local communities.—
Kenny Jacoby,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The fiasco left aspiring translators in Korea, most of them people of color, with one less route into the profession, further enabling white people’s social and actual capital to be kept within their possession.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Other than the San Antonio Spurs, the Knicks are the only postseason team that ranks in the top three in points scored and allowed per 100 possessions.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Experts and officials say the progress is largely thanks to the billions of dollars in public spending statewide, expanding street outreach, boosting rental assistance and converting motels into shelters and supportive housing, among other efforts to alleviate homelessness.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
-
Significantly for the Charlotte area, the region is eligible for both grants and closing cost assistance.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
The federal gas tax has also remained unchanged since 1993, which experts say has already eroded the Highway Trust Fund’s purchasing power when accounting for inflation.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
But legal experts say Uber’s proposal to cap attorney compensation — which would apply to all car accident cases, not just those involving rideshare vehicles — risks shutting poor people who can’t afford to pay a lawyer up front out of courthouses.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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