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.
Two years ago a long-term injury and surgery left Freya unable to play piano with her right hand.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
He lost the use of his right hand after a bombing in 1981, burnishing his credentials as a Shia revolutionary who has known sacrifice.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Reinecke incurred a slight injury to her right hand, but her mother was hit by the blown-out glass.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
Again, it mattered little with the U.S. getting that goal back three minutes later with Tillman bending a free kick from the top of the box off Vasilj’s gloved right hand and into the net.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
His right hand was on the trigger, but he carried the weight of the forestock on his left arm.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
The head of the Andalusia regional government, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, said four of the victims were travelling in a right-hand drive car.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
While beach huts regularly come up for sale in Abersoch, Elvin said it was rare for one on the beach's more sought-after right-hand side to reach the open market.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
"The driver came back to his car eventually and he opened the engine bay up and the snake was sat on the right-hand side above the strut spring."
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
Jim Kensil, Pete’s right-hand man, summoned my mailroom colleague Peter Hadhazy and me to his office that afternoon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 7, 2026
In unison, the witches and wizards along the right-hand side of the dungeon raised their hands.
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
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.
