Hand — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adverb /ˈhand/

Meaning & Definition of Hand

Hand (noun)

  1. the terminal part of the vertebrate forelimb when modified (as in humans) as a grasping organ, the body part at the end of the arm of a human, ape, or monkey
  2. the forelimb segment (such as the terminal section of a bird's wing) of a vertebrate higher than the fishes that corresponds to the hand irrespective of its form or functional specialization
  3. something resembling a hand

Hand (verb)

  1. to give, pass, or transmit with the hand
  2. to present or provide with
  3. to lead, guide, or assist with the hand

Hand (adverb)

  1. with the hands rather than by machine

Hand (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: angle, aspect, facet, phase, side
    related: air, appearance, character, color, complexion, condition, face, look, semblance, shape, state, visage, period, stage, step, outlook, perspective, position, posture, shoes, slant, stance, standpoint, view, viewpoint, interpretation, reading, rendering, translation, version, article, case, component, count, detail, dimension, element, factor, instance, item, matter, part, particular, point, regard, respect

  2. 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"

    similar: flank, side
    related: outside, face, top, bottom, foot, underbelly, underbody, underpart, underside, undersurface, lee, leeward, windward, left, right
    near: center, inside, interior, middle, midway

  3. an arrow-shaped piece on a dial or scale for registering information

    "both hands of the clock pointed to 12"

    similar: index, indicator, needle, pointer
    related: dial, face, gauge

  4. one who works for another for wages or a salary

    "the restaurant always hires several more hands for the busy summer season"

    similar: employee, hireling, jobholder, retainer, worker
    related: assistant, cog, flunky, subordinate, underling, yes-man, drudge, gandy dancer, grub, hack, jobber, laborer, navvy (chiefly British), toiler, nine-to-fiver, wage earner, wage slave, wageworker, workingman, workingwoman, workman, workwoman, associate, colleague, coworker, temp, temporary
    opposite: employer, gaffer (British)
    near: boss, superior, supervisor

  5. the form or style of a particular person's writing

    "writes with a flowing, old-fashioned hand"

    similar: handwriting, penmanship, script
    related: cacography, hen scratch, hen track, scratch, scrawl, scribble, backhand, copperplate, cursive, print, running hand, autograph, John Hancock, John Henry, signature

  6. the ability to direct the course of something

    "the final decision is in your hands"

    similar: control, grasp
    related: clutch, grip, hold, mastery, arm, command, dominion, helm, sway, authority, domination, jurisdiction, might, power, administration, direction, governance, government, guidance, management, operation, oversight, regulation, running, superintendence, supervision
    near: helplessness, weakness, impotence, impotency, powerlessness

  7. the fact or state of having (something) at one's disposal

    "I'd like to get my hands on that vintage Cadillac convertible"

    similar: control, enjoyment, keeping, possession
    related: ownership, proprietorship, authority, command, dominion, mastery, power, repossession, retention, claiming, collaring, commandeering, confiscation, procurement
    opposite: nonpossession
    near: dispossession, relinquishment, surrendering, transferal

  8. an act or instance of helping

    "the downstairs tenant gave us a hand getting the heavy dresser up the stairs"

    similar: abetment, aid, assist, assistance, backing, boost, help, helping hand, leg up, lift, support
    related: advancement, encouragement, facilitation, forwarding, furtherance, furthering, nurturance, benefaction, patronage, promotion, sponsorship, advice, care, counsel, guidance, mentoring, attendance, attention, hand-holding, service, beneficence, charity, favor, kindness, philanthropy, assuagement, palliation, relief, succor
    opposite: hindrance
    near: constraint, frustration, inhibition, interference, obstruction, repression, restraint, deterrence, discouragement

  9. 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"

    similar: ace, adept, artist, authority, cognoscente, connoisseur, crackerjack, dab (chiefly British), dab hand (chiefly British), expert, fiend, geek, guru, hotshot, maestro, master, maven, meister, past master, proficient, scholar, shark, sharp, virtuoso, whiz, wizard
    related: pro, professional, consultant, hired gun, specialist, addict, aficionado, buff, devotee, enthusiast, fan, craftsman, journeyman, all-rounder (British), jack-of-all-trades, Renaissance man, mistress
    opposite: amateur, inexpert, nonexpert
    near: apprentice, beginner, neophyte, novice, dabbler, dilettante, layman, nonprofessional

  10. a person's name written in their own handwriting often given to indicate awareness or consent

    "the subpoena required a lawyer's hand"

    similar: autograph, John Hancock, signature
    related: frank, mark, countersign, endorsement

Hand (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: deliver, feed, furnish, give, hand over, provide, supply
    related: ply (with), administer, allocate, apportion, deal (out), dispense, distribute, dole out, mete (out), parcel (out), portion, prorate, assign, cede, deed, make over, transfer
    opposite: hold (back), keep (back), reserve, retain, withhold
    near: conserve, keep up, maintain, preserve, save

  2. to shift possession of (something) from one person to another

    "the clerk handed her the receipt"

    similar: buck, hand over, pass, reach, transfer
    related: relay, bear, carry, finger, handle, paw, cede, deliver, give, give up, release, relinquish, render, surrender, turn over, yield

  3. to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another

    "handed me her bundles while she fished for her house keys"

    similar: commend, commit, confide, consign, delegate, deliver, entrust, give, give over, hand over, leave, pass, recommend, repose, transfer, transmit, trust, turn over, vest
    related: confer, grant, assign, deal (out), dispense, disperse, distribute, divide, hand in, release, relinquish, submit, surrender, turn in, yield, bequeath, hand down, hand on, will, advance, lend, loan, furnish, supply, recommit, redeliver, retransfer, retransmit
    opposite: hold, keep, retain
    near: detain, hold back, reserve, withhold, own, possess, accept, receive, take in, occupy, take, take over

Related Entry: Hand in glove (adverb)

Hand in glove is a different word from Hand. The synonyms below are for hand in glove, not for hand.

  1. in or by combined action or effort

    "as citizens we must work hand in glove with the local police to protect our children"

    similar: concertedly, conjointly, jointly, together, in concert
    related: collectively, mutually, reciprocally, unanimously, unitedly, cooperatively, symbiotically
    opposite: apart, independently, individually, separately, severally, single-handed, single-handedly, singly, solely, unaided, unassisted, unilaterally

Related Entry: Hand out (verb)

Hand out is a different word from Hand. The synonyms below are for hand out, not for hand.

  1. to give out (something) to appropriate individuals

    "no system yet in place for handing out room assignments"

    similar: administer, allocate, apportion, deal (out), dispense, distribute, dole out, mete (out), parcel (out), portion, prorate
    related: admeasure, allot, allow, appropriate, assign, dish out, divide, divvy (up), dollop (out), lot, measure (out), part, proportion, ration, redistribute, set, share (out), split, bestow, disburse, furnish, issue, provide, share, supply, circulate, disperse, disseminate, scatter, spread, chip in, contribute, donate, pledge, reallocate, reapportion
    opposite: misallocate
    near: begrudge, decline, deny, deprive (of), disallow, refuse, reject, withhold, niggle (out), pinch, skimp, stint

Related Entry: Hand over (verb)

Hand over is a different word from Hand. The synonyms below are for hand over, not for hand.

  1. to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress

    "the police officer ordered the suspect to hand over his weapons"

    similar: cede, cough up, deliver, give up, lay down, relinquish, render, surrender, turn in, turn over, yield
    related: commit, consign, entrust, transfer, forfeit, release, waive, abnegate, renounce, resign, abandon, desert, discard, forsake, part (with), shed
    near: keep, retain, withhold

  2. to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption

    "in response to a desperate plea, we handed over all our extra blankets and pillows to the homeless shelter"

    similar: deliver, feed, furnish, give, hand, provide, supply
    related: ply (with), administer, allocate, apportion, deal (out), dispense, distribute, dole out, mete (out), parcel (out), portion, prorate, assign, cede, deed, make over, transfer
    opposite: hold (back), keep (back), reserve, retain, withhold
    near: conserve, keep up, maintain, preserve, save

  3. to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another

    "handed over their valuables to the desk clerk, who put them in the hotel safe"

    similar: commend, commit, confide, consign, delegate, deliver, entrust, give, give over, hand, leave, pass, recommend, repose, transfer, transmit, trust, turn over, vest
    related: confer, grant, assign, deal (out), dispense, disperse, distribute, divide, hand in, release, relinquish, submit, surrender, turn in, yield, bequeath, hand down, hand on, will, advance, lend, loan, furnish, supply, recommit, redeliver, retransfer, retransmit
    opposite: hold, keep, retain
    near: detain, hold back, reserve, withhold, own, possess, accept, receive, take in, occupy, take, take over

  4. to shift possession of (something) from one person to another

    "hand over that screwdriver, will you please?"

    similar: buck, hand, pass, reach, transfer
    related: relay, bear, carry, finger, handle, paw, cede, deliver, give, give up, release, relinquish, render, surrender, turn over, yield

Related Entry: Hand running (adverb)

Hand running is a different word from Hand. The synonyms below are for hand running, not for hand.

  1. in succession without others coming in between

    "worked on repairing the fencing for five days hand running"

    similar: back-to-back, consecutively, running, sequentially, seriatim, successionally, successively, together, on end
    related: serially, constantly, continually, continuingly, continuously, night and day, repeatedly, unceasingly, uninterruptedly, subsequently
    near: discontinuously, intermittently, interruptedly

Related Entry: Hand-to-mouth (adjective)

Hand-to-mouth is a different word from Hand. The synonyms below are for hand-to-mouth, not for hand.

  1. less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable

    "survived on a hand-to-mouth income that came from any odd job that he could find"

    similar: exiguous, light, meager, poor, scant, scanty, scarce, skimp, skimpy, slender, slim, spare, sparing, sparse, stingy, thin on the ground
    related: deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, short, wanting, bare, bare-bones, least, littlest, lowest, mere, minimal, slightest, slight, small, thin, barren, infertile, sterile, unfruitful, unproductive
    opposite: abundant, ample, bountiful, copious, generous, liberal, plenteous, plentiful
    near: adequate, enough, satisfactory, sufficient, tolerable, fat, fecund, fertile, fruitful, prolific, rich, lavish, luxuriant, blooming, bursting, flourishing, proliferative, swarming, teeming, thriving, excess, extra, surplus

Related Entry: Hand-holding (noun)

Hand-holding is a different word from Hand. The synonyms below are for hand-holding, not for hand.

  1. patient and attentive guidance encouragement, or instruction

    "New computer users often require a good deal of hand-holding."

    similar: attendance, attention, service, abetment, aid, assist, assistance, backing, boost, hand, help, helping hand, leg up, lift, support, advancement, facilitation, forwarding, furtherance, furthering, nurturance, benefaction, patronage, promotion, sponsorship, advice, care, counsel, mentoring, beneficence, charity, favor, kindness, philanthropy, assuagement, palliation, relief, succor
    opposite: deterrence, discouragement, hindrance, constraint, frustration, inhibition, interference, obstruction, repression, restraint

Related Entry: Hand-me-down (adjective)

Hand-me-down is a different word from Hand. The synonyms below are for hand-me-down, not for hand.

  1. owned or used by someone after it had been owned or used by someone else

    "He was wearing an old, hand-me-down jacket."

    similar: pre-owned, reach-me-down (chiefly British), secondhand, old, worn, assumed, borrowed
    opposite: brand-new, new, unused, bespoke, custom, customized, custom-made, tailored, tailor-made

Related Entry: Hand-wringing (noun)

Hand-wringing is a different word from Hand. The synonyms below are for hand-wringing, not for hand.

  1. worried talk or behavior

    "There has been a lot of silly hand-wringing over the latest hike in interest rates."

    similar: alarm, anguish, consternation, desperateness, desperation, discomfort, discomposure, dismay, distraction, distress, disturbance, edginess, franticness, jitters, jumpiness, panic, tremor, agita, agitation, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, care, concern, concernment, disquiet, disquietude, fear, nervosity, nervousness, perturbation, solicitude, sweat, unease, uneasiness, worry, strain, stress, tension, angst, fearfulness, torment, upset, vexation, cold feet, doubt, dread, foreboding, incertitude, misgiving, presentiment, suspense, uncertainty, compunction, qualm, scruple
    opposite: calm, calmness, content, contentment, ease, easiness, peace, peacefulness, placidity, placidness, quiet, quietude, sereneness, serenity, tranquility, tranquilness, comfort, consolation, relief, solace, unconcern

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hand

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hand:

Chiefly British: dab, dab hand
angle, aspect, facet, phase, side, flank, index, indicator, needle, pointer, employee, hireling, jobholder, retainer, worker, handwriting, penmanship, script, control, grasp, enjoyment, keeping, possession, abetment, aid, assist, assistance, backing, boost, help, helping hand, leg up, lift, support, ace, adept, artist, authority, cognoscente, connoisseur

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Hand

Words with the opposite meaning of Hand:

employer, gaffer, nonpossession, hindrance, amateur, inexpert, nonexpert, hold (back), keep (back), reserve, retain, withhold, hold, keep

Related Words for Hand

air, appearance, character, color, complexion, condition, face, look, semblance, shape, state, visage, period, stage, step, outlook, perspective, position, posture, shoes, slant, stance, standpoint, view, viewpoint, interpretation, reading, rendering, translation, version

Near Antonyms of Hand

center, inside, interior, middle, midway, boss, superior, supervisor, helplessness, weakness, impotence, impotency, powerlessness, dispossession, relinquishment, surrendering, transferal, constraint, frustration, inhibition, interference, obstruction, repression, restraint, deterrence, discouragement, apprentice, beginner, neophyte, novice

Word Forms of Hand

Inflections: handed, handing, hands

Origin & Etymology of Hand

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German hant hand

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Hand

Words & Phrases Containing Hand

hand and foot, hand ax, hand blender, hand brake, hand down, hand-feed

Frequently Asked Questions about Hand

What does "Hand" mean?

"Hand" means the terminal part of the vertebrate forelimb when modified (as in humans) as a grasping organ, the body part at the end of the arm of a human, ape, or monkey. As an a noun, a verb and an adverb, it is defined as: the terminal part of the vertebrate forelimb when modified (as in humans) as a grasping organ, the body part at the end of the arm of a human, ape, or monkey. It has 13 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Hand"?

Other words for "Hand" include angle, aspect, facet, phase, side, flank, index and indicator. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hand" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hand"?

There are 318 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hand". Common alternatives include angle, aspect, facet, phase, side, flank, index, indicator, needle and pointer.

What is the opposite of "Hand"?

Antonyms of "Hand" include employer, gaffer, nonpossession, hindrance, amateur, inexpert, nonexpert and hold (back). Near antonyms include center, inside, interior and middle.

How do you use "Hand" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hand" in a sentence: "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"; "tall buildings rose on either hand"; "nothing but wide open space on either hand".

Is "Hand" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hand" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adverb, depending on the context.

Is "Hand" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Hand" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Hand"?

"Hand" is pronounced /ˈhand/.