handed
Americanadjective
-
having or involving a hand or hands (usually used in combination).
two-handed backhand; a four-handed piano work.
-
using a particular hand (usually used in combination).
right-handed.
-
having, requiring, or with the number of people, workers, or players indicated (usually used in combination).
a three-handed game of poker.
-
manned; staffed (usually used in combination).
adjective
-
having a hand or hands as specified
broad-handed
a four-handed game of cards
-
made as specified for either left- or right-hand operation or positioning
Etymology
Origin of handed
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:
"Back then a diagnosis of inflammatory triple negative breast cancer was like being handed a death sentence," Lynette said.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Shipton's daughter Tracy Faram Shipton said her mother was "horrifically traumatised" and had filed an appeal, arguing the sentence handed to Harris last week was unduly lenient.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
A British funeral director faced prison Monday over a scandal that saw bodies left "stored on racks" and uncremated while relatives were handed other people's ashes, sparking calls for better regulation of the industry.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
Authorities in May handed Futu a $271 million penalty for what they said was illegal facilitation of cross-border investments, part of a sweep of penalties against similar companies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
Not saying a word, Grandpa ran his hand down in his pocket, pulled out the money I had given him, and handed it to me.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
![]()
Like Hollman, he had won a reputation for open -handed charity, and was liked—and hated.
From The Call of the Cumberlands by Buck, Charles Neville
It was the good fellows, easy and genial, daring, and, on occasion, mad, that I wanted to know—the fellows, generous-hearted and -handed, and not rabbit-hearted.
From John Barleycorn by London, Jack
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.