hand

HAND/hænd/

Pluralhands

Verbhands, handing, handed

34 meanings of hand

Practice

1
body partnouncountable
The part at the end of your arm that you hold things with, with fingers and a thumb.
Wash your hands with soap before you eat.
He held the cup in one hand.
UsageSay shake hands and hold hands, with hands in the plural.
Note
2
give to someoneverbtransitive
To pass something to someone, or to give them something such as a job or a chance.
She handed the baby to her father and picked up her coat.
Hand me the salt, please.
UsageSay hand him the keys or hand the keys to him.
Similargive, pass, deliver, transfer, present
Note
3
noun
The part someone plays in making something happen.
Did you have a hand in planning this surprise party?
You can see the hand of a master in every line of this painting.
UsageMostly in phrases like have a hand in something.
Note
4
controlnouncountableplural
The control or care of someone, as in 'The children are in good hands.'
You are in safe hands.
The new boss runs the office with a firm hand.
Similarcontrol, care, keeping, custody, possession
5
directionnouncountable
One side or direction, or one side of an argument or choice.
On the one hand the flat is cheap, but on the other hand it is far from work.
The enemy came at them on every hand.
UsageOn the other hand brings in an opposite point, not just one more point.
Similarside
Note
6
nouncountable
Some help with a job or task.
Can you give me a hand carrying these boxes upstairs?
Do you need a hand?
UsageSay give someone a hand or lend a hand with a job.
Similarhelp, assistance, aid
Oppositehindrance
Note
7
workernouncountablein compounds
A worker, often used after a word that says where they work.
Every summer, the old cattle ranch hires a few extra ranch hands from town.
Every hand on the ship was needed in the storm.
UsageOften in words like farmhand and in all hands on deck.
Similarworker, laborer, workman, crewman, employee
Note
8
skillnouncountable
Skill or ability at doing something.
He wanted to try his hand at writing.
She has a light hand with pastry, so her pies are always flaky.
UsageSay try your hand at something new, and keep your hand in to stay in practice.
Similartouch, skill, artistry, craftsmanship
Note
9
noun
The step by which something passes from one person to the next.
The nurse knew at first hand how tiring night shifts can be.
She saw the storm damage at first hand when she visited the town.
UsageToday people usually say firsthand or secondhand.
Note

Less common meanings

10
clock pointernouncountable
A moving pointer on a clock or dial.
The minute hand had just passed twelve.
Both hands pointed straight up at noon.
UsageSay the hour hand and the minute hand.
Similarpointer, needle
11
cards heldnouncountable
The cards a player is holding in a card game.
I was dealt a terrible hand.
Don't show anyone your hand.
Note
12
applausenouncountable
Clapping to show you liked someone's performance.
Let's all give the cooks a big hand for this meal.
The band got a big hand at the end.
UsageSay give someone a big hand.
Similarovation, applause, round, clap
Note
13
round (cards)nouncountable
A single round of play in a card game.
Let's play one more hand before bed.
She won the last hand with a flush.
Similarround, deal
Note
14
free to helpnouncolloquialcountable
A free hand to help with, mostly used with 'no' or 'not'.
Can you open the door for me? I don't have a free hand.
Sorry, I can't help with the bags. I don't have a spare hand.
15
horse heightnouncountable
A unit of four inches, used to measure how tall horses are.
Our old farm horse stands about fifteen hands high.
A pony stands no taller than fourteen and a half hands, and a hand is four inches.
UsageSay a number first: fifteen hands, or fifteen hands high.
Note
16
marriage promisenouncountable
A promise to do something, especially to get married.
Her father agreed when the young man asked for her hand.
Before he proposed, he asked her parents for her hand.
UsageMostly in ask for her hand, meaning ask to marry her.
Note
17
writing stylenouncountable
The way a person writes by hand, or their name signed on a paper.
She writes a neat, clear hand.
The note was written in my grandmother's hand.
UsageSay written in a neat hand.
Similarhandwriting, script, writing
Note
18
nouncountable
Something that looks like a human hand or does some of the work of one.
The robot picked up the egg gently with its metal hand.
Fans in the stands waved big foam hands at the players.
Note
19
skilled personnouncountable
A person who is skilled or unskilled at something, often with 'at'.
She's an old hand at public speaking.
My brother is a pretty good hand at fixing old bikes.
UsageSay an old hand or a great hand at something.
Note
20
banana bunchnouncollectivecountable
A bunch of bananas joined together, as sold in a shop.
The shopkeeper held up a hand of six bananas.
Buy a whole hand and let them ripen.
Similarbunch, cluster
Note
21
ginger rootnouncountable
A whole root of ginger, with its branches like fingers.
Buy a whole hand of ginger and freeze what you don't use.
One hand of ginger will flavor a dozen dishes.
Similarroot, rhizome
22
guide someoneverbtransitive
To guide or help someone along by holding them.
He stepped forward to hand the lady into the carriage.
He handed the old woman across the icy street.
Similarhelp, guide, assist, lead, escort
Note
23
three-inch unitnounobsolete
A unit for measuring length, equal to three inches.
Note
24
noun
The way a fabric feels when you touch it.
25
noun
What you hold, or could hold, in one hand at one time.
26
noun
On a gun, the narrow part of the stock that you grip when aiming.
27
noun
In tobacco making, a bunch of leaves that are tied together.
28
verb
On a ship, to fold up a sail and tie it in place.
29
noun
An old name for a Native American guessing game, still played, in which small pieces are hidden in the players' hands.
30
nounobsolete
The cost of something.
For Time is the meaſure of Buſineſſe, as Money is of Wares: And Buſineſſe is bought at a deare Hand, where there is ſmall diſpatch.
1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Dispatch. XXV.”
31
verbobsolete
To hold and work something with your hands, such as an oar.
I bleſs my Chain, I hand my Oar, / Nor think on all I left on Shoar.
1709, Mat[thew] Prior, “The Lady's Looking-Glass”
32
verbobsolete
To grab or take hold of.
wee will not hand a rope more
1610, William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”
33
verbrare
To promise something, especially marriage, by joining hands.
34
verbobsolete
To work together.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of hand apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1, 3–21, 23

It comes from Old English "hand," which goes back to older Germanic words for hand.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The noun comes from Old English hand. en.wiktionary.org
Old English hand descends from older Germanic words meaning hand. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 2, 22

It comes from the noun "hand," and also from an Old English verb meaning to seize or grasp by hand.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The verb hand derives partly from the noun hand. en.wiktionary.org
The verb hand also derives from an Old English verb meaning to seize or grasp by hand. en.wiktionary.org