the hand that is on the right side, or the side opposite that where the heart is.
the right side, as of a person, especially this side considered as the side of precedence or courtesy.
a position of honor or special trust.
an extremely efficient or reliable person or, sometimes, tool, especially a person considered as one's assistant.
on the right.
of, for, or with the right hand.
most reliable, valuable, or useful, as a helper or assistant.
Building Trades. Also
(of a door) having the hinges on the right when seen from the exterior of the building, room, closet, etc., to which the doorway leads.
(of a casement sash) having the hinges on the right when seen from inside the window.
of, relating to, located on, or moving towards the right
a right-hand bend
this car has right-hand drive
for use by the right hand; right-handed
one's most valuable assistant or supporter
before 1000; Middle English; Old English
adj. use of right hand
Anything on the right-hand side is on the right. Just add hand if you don’t want people getting it confused with right as in “correct.” Also, your most reliable friend is your right-hand woman (or man). Your car's turn signal may be on the right-hand side of the steering wheel, and your dishwasher might be on the right-hand side of your kitchen sink. In both cases, right-hand describes something located toward the right, or in the direction of your right hand. A right-hand person, on the other hand, is someone you know you can depend on. In the musical "Hamilton," George Washington asks Alexander Hamilton to be his "right-hand man."
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the next over, Stokes hammered back at Will O'Rourke with such force that O'Rourke had to leave the field for treatment on his right hand.
From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026
He suffered frostbite on his right hand and foot.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
Since returning to office, the Republican has often appeared with bruising on his right hand, usually covered with make-up.
From Barron's • May 30, 2026
The findings suggest that the combination of upright walking and larger brains may explain why humans developed such an unusually strong preference for the right hand.
From Science Daily • May 18, 2026
I glanced up, shielding my eyes from the sun with my vine-stained right hand.
From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson
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.
