in hand

phrase

Synonyms of in handnext
1
: in one's possession or control
had matters well in hand
with money in hand
2
: in preparation
a new play in hand
3
: under consideration
took the matter in hand

Examples of in hand in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Walker arrives at the scene and notices a man running away with a gun in hand. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026 On Thursday, Dixon arrived at Pittsburgh Yards with resumes in hand, hoping to connect with employers at the Southside Works Career Fair. — Jamal Goss, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 Eleventh Dream Day formed in 1983, and as guitarist and singer Rick Rizzo recalls, Jacobs was at the band’s very first shows, tape recorder in hand. — Kevin McKeough, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026 The new rules aim to prevent people from roaming from bar to bar with an alcoholic beverage in hand. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for in hand

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of in hand was before the 12th century

Rhymes for in hand

See All Rhymes for in hand

Browse Nearby Words

in half
in hand
inharmonic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“In hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20hand. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on in hand

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for in hand

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All