hand

hand — verb

1. to give something to another person by putting it into their hand or within thei

1.verbtransitiveA2
Definition

to give something to another person by putting it into their hand or within their reach, especially when you are standing close to them.

Example

Jisoo handed her bus pass to the driver as she stepped onto the bus.

hand + direct object + to + recipient

The librarian handed Bao a stack of books about ancient Egypt.

hand + indirect object + direct object (ditransitive)

Common collocations
  • hand someone a plate
  • hand a ticket to the inspector
  • hand back
  • hand over
Synonyms
  • pass

    more neutral; 'pass' can involve a longer distance or intermediary

  • give

    broader meaning — 'give' does not require direct hand-to-hand transfer

  • deliver

    more formal; suggests the item reaches its intended destination, possibly after travel

Antonyms
  • keep

    to hold onto something instead of giving it away

  • take

    to receive rather than give

Grammar Patterns

hand + someone + something

hand + something + to + someone

Usage Note

Frequently takes two objects — you can either 'hand someone something' or 'hand something to someone.' Unlike 'give,' 'hand' always implies the item moves directly from your hand to another person's hand, without a container or intermediary.

Common Mistakes

She handed me a smile as I walked in.
She gave me a smile as I walked in.
'hand' requires a physical object that can be passed from your hand to another; you cannot 'hand' emotions or gestures.
The man handed the letter.' (without a recipient)
The man handed the letter to the receptionist.
'hand' in this sense almost always needs a recipient, either as an indirect object or in a 'to' phrase.

2. in football (soccer) or ice hockey — for a player to deliberately use a hand or

2.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

in football (soccer) or ice hockey — for a player to deliberately use a hand or arm to make contact with the object being played, which is against the competition rules and typically results in a free kick or penalty.

Example

The referee blew his whistle when Omar handed the ball inside the penalty area.

hand + the ball + location of offence

Esteban was penalised for handing the puck during the championship final.

penalised for handing + the puck

Common collocations
  • deliberately hand the ball
  • hand the puck
  • be penalised for handing
Synonyms
  • handle

    broader; 'handle the ball' is the more common verb phrase in football

  • touch

    more neutral; does not imply rule-breaking by itself

Grammar Patterns

hand + the ball/puck

be penalised for handing + the ball/puck

Usage Note

Only used in sports where hand contact with the ball or puck is forbidden by the rules. Does not apply to basketball or rugby, where handling the ball is legal. In modern football commentary, the noun 'handball' is far more common than the verb 'hand.'

Common Mistakes

The basketball player handed the ball.
The basketball player dribbled the ball.
In basketball, touching the ball with your hands is legal, so this sense does not apply.
He handed the ball over the line.' (ambiguous)
He was called for handball after the ball touched his arm.
The verb 'hand' in this sense is less common than the noun 'handball' in modern football commentary.

3. to take a person by the hand or arm and gently move them to another place, espec

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to take a person by the hand or arm and gently move them to another place, especially when they need help walking or direction.

Example

A nurse handed the elderly woman carefully to a chair beside the window.

hand + person + to + destination

Gabriel handed his grandmother slowly across the busy street to the pharmacy.

hand + person + across + location

Common collocations
  • hand someone to a seat
  • hand someone across the road
  • hand someone into a car
  • hand someone through a door
Synonyms
  • lead

    more common; 'lead' works with or without physical contact

  • guide

    emphasises showing the way rather than physical assistance

  • escort

    more formal; often implies accompanying for safety or protocol

  • usher

    formal; typically used for guiding someone to a seat or into a room

Antonyms
  • push

    implies force rather than gentle guidance

  • leave

    to go away from someone rather than staying to guide them

Grammar Patterns

hand + someone + preposition + location

Usage Note

Slightly old-fashioned or literary in modern English. In everyday conversation, 'lead,' 'guide,' or 'help' are more common. Frequently used with directional prepositions like 'to,' 'into,' 'across,' or 'through.' The subject is often a person in a caretaking role, such as a nurse, doorman, or family member.

Common Mistakes

The manager handed me to my new office.
The manager led me to my new office.
'hand' in this sense requires physical contact (holding a hand or arm); use 'lead' or 'show' when no contact is involved.
She handed him out of the burning building.
She guided him out of the burning building.
In emergencies, 'hand' sounds too gentle; use 'guide' or 'help' instead.

hand — noun

hand — idiom

hand — adverb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While 'hand' refers to the whole body part at the end of the arm (fingers, thumb, and palm together), each related word picks out a specific part or function. 'Palm' refers only to the flat inner surface — you can have dirt on your palm without it being on your whole hand. 'Fist' is the hand with fingers curled tightly inward, used for punching or gripping firmly. 'Paw' is primarily an animal's foot, though it can be used humorously or informally for a human hand ('get your paws off my phone'). 'Mitt' is informal slang for a hand, especially a large or clumsy one, or a padded glove for baseball. 'Grip' differs from all of these — it is not the body part but the action or strength of holding ('His grip was so strong it hurt'). For learners, the most common confusion is between 'hand' and 'palm': use 'palm' only when the context calls for the inner surface (reading palms, having something in your palm), and 'hand' for everything else.

Common collocations

Nouns

  • hand cream
  • hand signal
  • hand gesture
  • hand towel
  • hand soap

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'hand' comes from Old English 'hand, hond,' which traces back to Proto-Germanic *handuz. It is related to Dutch 'hand,' German 'Hand,' and Old Norse 'hönd.' The ultimate origin is uncertain, though some scholars connect it to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to seize' or 'to grasp.' The word has maintained a similar form and core meaning across more than a thousand years of English, while developing a remarkably wide range of figurative senses — from clock pointers to card games to units of horse height.