hand
noun
the terminal, prehensile part of the upper limb in humans and other primates, consisting of the wrist, metacarpal area, fingers, and thumb.
were handing
-
past progressiveof hand.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
In New York, libraries and train stations were handing them out for free.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
On Dec. 29, 2023, a resident emailed Orchid about a group of recruiters at the market who were handing out fliers for DTLA.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
Loans included fewer investor protections and more borrowers were handing over “payment-in-kind” interest, meaning they were adding to their debt pile instead of ponying up cash.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 20, 2026
They were handing out one-sheeters that listed all the open positions, alongside a job description, expected time commitment, and pay.
From Slate ● Apr. 30, 2025
It was never a group of people I loved who were handing me pink wine that smelled like fruit.
From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen
