1
as in control
the ability to direct the course of something
the final decision is in your hands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in enjoyment
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
1
as in provides
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
as in passes
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another
the clerk handed her the receipt
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in leaves
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 hands
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Dodds and Mouat, who entered the field as favorites, shook hands with the Wrana siblings with one end still to play.
—Julia Frankel, Arkansas Online, 10 Feb. 2026
But the universe of competitive seats is actually much smaller — 25 seats are considered to be safely in the hands of the incumbent party (16 Republican, nine Democratic), according to Cook.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
Yet while each of the aforementioned are digital displays, the three hands are crafted from anodized aluminum and are driven by three motors and intricate gearing.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 9 Feb. 2026
If you're seated, place your hands visibly on the table or on your lap.
—Matt Abrahams, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
His fate is now ultimately in the hands of the Parliamentary Labor Party tonight.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 9 Feb. 2026
The company changed hands several times over the years after its founder sold it in 1968.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 9 Feb. 2026
Sports, Hollins does not eat vegetables, avoids drinking water (his preference is watermelon juice) and prefers to eat with his hands rather than use utensils.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Linden grabs a bottle of water from our minifridge and hands it to me.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
Polls show that the majority of Ukrainians oppose a deal that hands Moscow land.
—Reuters, NBC news, 4 Feb. 2026
Accept and embrace what the reach for more revenue hands us.
—Gladys Louise Tyler, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
The case changes hands Meanwhile, the detective who initially investigated Harris’ killing retired from CPD.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Despite the fact that Bradley’s father had promised Linda a promotion to VP, Bradley hands the role to his underqualified frat brother instead.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
In one scene, Harry hands Ben an external data card to load onto Ben’s ancient, 40-pound desktop computer.
—Beandrea July, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026
That's a big caveat that essentially hands the president unrestricted power to fire members of the Fed and replace them with his personal picks.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
And while their steamy, sweaty dalliances are hot and heavy (albeit mostly clothed), most swoonworthy are the smaller moments, like Heathcliff gently cupping his hands to keep the rain out of Cathy’s eyes.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Dodds and Mouat, who entered the field as favorites, shook hands with the Wrana siblings with one end still to play.
—Julia Frankel, Arkansas Online, 10 Feb. 2026
But the universe of competitive seats is actually much smaller — 25 seats are considered to be safely in the hands of the incumbent party (16 Republican, nine Democratic), according to Cook.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
Yet while each of the aforementioned are digital displays, the three hands are crafted from anodized aluminum and are driven by three motors and intricate gearing.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 9 Feb. 2026
If you're seated, place your hands visibly on the table or on your lap.
—Matt Abrahams, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
His fate is now ultimately in the hands of the Parliamentary Labor Party tonight.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 9 Feb. 2026
The company changed hands several times over the years after its founder sold it in 1968.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 9 Feb. 2026
Sports, Hollins does not eat vegetables, avoids drinking water (his preference is watermelon juice) and prefers to eat with his hands rather than use utensils.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
The artist then walks over and hands Lincoln what appears to be a Grammy.
—CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Linden grabs a bottle of water from our minifridge and hands it to me.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
Polls show that the majority of Ukrainians oppose a deal that hands Moscow land.
—Reuters, NBC news, 4 Feb. 2026
Accept and embrace what the reach for more revenue hands us.
—Gladys Louise Tyler, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
The case changes hands Meanwhile, the detective who initially investigated Harris’ killing retired from CPD.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Despite the fact that Bradley’s father had promised Linda a promotion to VP, Bradley hands the role to his underqualified frat brother instead.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
In one scene, Harry hands Ben an external data card to load onto Ben’s ancient, 40-pound desktop computer.
—Beandrea July, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026
That's a big caveat that essentially hands the president unrestricted power to fire members of the Fed and replace them with his personal picks.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hands
Noun
-
Engineers tracked stability and control across each phase.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
-
As Farthing was assisting in traffic control, a man approached him from behind and stabbed him in the back, sheriff's office spokesperson Kim Peters said in a news release.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The lot of the property covers a substantial area of 8,116 square feet, complete with a pool for outdoor enjoyment.—
Bay Area Home Report,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The lawsuit accuses the city of taking no efforts to stop trespassers and failing to compensate the owners for their loss of use and enjoyment of the property.—
Jack Flemming,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Instead, the brunt of the impact will fall on other agencies within DHS, a sprawling department that includes the Transportation Security Administration, which provides airport security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Coast Guard.—
Riley Beggin,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Mecklenburg County provides a significant amount of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ funding, as voted on annually by county commissioners.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Weather Service also said in its daily forecast discussion that a change in the current dry, mild weather pattern is coming toward the end of next week as a weak system passes mainly through Oregon and Washington.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
-
After the deadline passes, no new candidates may enter the race or withdraw their declarations.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In the last few seconds, the black holes whirl around each other at near the speed of light, emitting ever more powerful gravitational waves until the two actually merge, combining in one gluttonous gulp that leaves behind a single, more massive black hole.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Modern systems, including those from ADT, offer smart features that detect when your mobile device leaves a preset boundary (geofence) around your home.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
These days, he is widely regarded as having the finest facility with metrical forms of any poet of his generation—a grasp of prosody both perfect and unpredictable, as if the complex metronome of that turbulent coastline ticked on within him.—
Kathryn Schulz,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
No researcher seems to have a firm grasp on how big the industry is.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
City had 61 per cent possession and their passing accuracy in the final third was 84 per cent before the break compared to Liverpool’s dismal 43 per cent.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The control does not have to be an arrest or physical possession of a person.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For what quantum mechanics actually supplies is the probabilities of measurement outcomes.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Rapid growth in Albemarle’s energy storage business, which supplies battery materials, and cost-cutting measures across the company helped boost efficiency, Masters said.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hands. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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