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  • handed
    handed
    adjective
    having or involving a hand or hands (usually used in combination).
  • -handed
    -handed
    adjective
    having a hand or hands as specified

handed

American  
[han-did] / ˈhæn dɪd /

adjective

  1. having or involving a hand or hands (usually used in combination).

    two-handed backhand; a four-handed piano work.

  2. using a particular hand (usually used in combination).

    right-handed.

  3. having, requiring, or with the number of people, workers, or players indicated (usually used in combination).

    a three-handed game of poker.

  4. manned; staffed (usually used in combination).


-handed British  

adjective

  1. having a hand or hands as specified

    broad-handed

    a four-handed game of cards

  2. made as specified for either left- or right-hand operation or positioning

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of handed

First recorded in 1520–30; hand + -ed 3

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:

Even after Argentina was handed a massive advantage with a controversial red card for Switzerland, the score was tied 1-1 deep into extra time.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 12, 2026

That company alleged last year that a former engineer stole files from the company and handed them over to Tan, then a senior executive connected to io Products.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 10, 2026

It was revealed in December the regulator had never heard from a firm handed a £1m fine - prompting questions of whether monetary penalties were enough to secure action.

From BBC Jul. 9, 2026

A series of unforced errors and a double fault saw Gauff drop serve early on in a one-sided first set, and she shanked a forehand wide when handed the chance to break back.

From BBC Jul. 9, 2026

She set the headpieces on the worktable, pulled a box from a drawer under the table, and handed it to me.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

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

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

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