hand-feed
Americanverb (used with object)
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Agriculture. to feed (animals) with apportioned amounts at regular intervals.
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to feed (an animal or person) by hand.
The students hand-fed the baby monkeys with an eyedropper.
Etymology
Origin of hand-feed
First recorded in 1795–1805
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
They’ll also provide healthy treats to hand-feed the four-legged hikers who will be available for petting and unlimited photo opportunities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2022
But never hand-feed an animal; you don’t want to get bitten or scratched.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 6, 2022
People who hand-feed their local deer — a practice experts warn against — could also be at risk.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 7, 2022
Her verdict: hand-feed the puppy every two hours with a syringe or a baby-style bottle, and a special formula milk.
From BBC ● Dec. 23, 2018
But when Beatrice refused to eat, I had to hand-feed her a few lumps of liver-flavored kibble.
From "Ungifted" by Gordon Korman
"We had a lovely video sent to us about the cows being hand-fed stale baguettes, everyone loved that video," Haywood added.
From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026
They took two African grays that Allen had hand-fed as babies and was planning to sell.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2023
He and his wife hand-fed the animal until it was able to eat on its own.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 18, 2023
When Dani Rabaiotti, an environmental scientist based in London, volunteered at an aquarium as a teenager, she met a moray eel who knew how to slither onto a ledge and wait to be hand-fed.
From New York Times ● Jun. 22, 2021
“You can see him on every line. He hand-fed each word to the Courier. He’ll go far, that fellow. This is better advertising for his company and himself than you can pay out money for.”
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
While humans are unlikely to contract H5N1, close physical contact with birds through hand-feeding is simply not worth the risk.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026
Gavin Newsom was in his element, hand-feeding dishy commentary to an eager political press corps.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2023
Zoo staff will also condition the pair for hand-feeding as they transition away from regurgitated fish à la mom and dad.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 27, 2023
But if they bless you with something egregious, go for it: “I find it challenging when you’re in her lap and hand-feeding her like she’s an orphaned bird.”
From Washington Post ● Mar. 6, 2023
With careful hand-feeding that in the beginning went around the clock, I was able to parrot-parent.
From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
