left-hand
Americanadjective
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on or to the left.
a left-hand turn at the intersection.
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of, for, or with the left hand.
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Building Trades.
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(of a door) having the hinges on the left when seen from the exterior of the building, room, closet, etc., to which the doorway leads.
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(of a casement sash) having the hinges on the left when seen from inside the window.
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adjective
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of, relating to, located on, or moving towards the left
this car is left-hand drive
a left-hand bend
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for use by the left hand; left-handed
Etymology
Origin of left-hand
Middle English word dating back to 1150–1200
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.
Her left hand is no longer fully functional.
From BBC • May 10, 2026
King’s right hand delivers the ball at 100 mph and his left hand at 90 mph.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026
Mr. Hemming writes that upon Miller’s death, doctors found 23 battle scars, a large wound on his right abdominal cartilage, two rifle balls lodged in his liver, and mutilated fingers on his left hand.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
He said he told him about superstitious routines he would do like talking to the car or always getting in on the left hand side.
From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026
She then placed the receiver in my left hand, and I lifted it to my ear.
From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez
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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.