handed

handed — adjective

  • handedpositive
  • more handedcomparative
  • most handedsuperlative

1. used after a word such as 'right-', 'left-', or 'empty-' to describe what kind o

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

used after a word such as 'right-', 'left-', or 'empty-' to describe what kind of hands someone has or whether they are holding anything

Example

Layla is right-handed and struggles with scissors made for left-handed users.

The burglars fled the house empty-handed when the alarm system went off.

compound adjective empty-handed used as adverb describing how someone leaves

Common collocations
  • right-handed
  • left-handed
  • empty-handed
  • bare-handed
  • clean-handed
  • short-handed

Grammar Patterns

prefix + handed (compound adjective)

Usage Note

Always appears as the second part of a hyphenated compound adjective. The first part (e.g., right-, left-, empty-) describes the type or state of the hands. Never used alone as a standalone adjective.

Common Mistakes

He is handed.
He is right-handed.
'handed' cannot be used alone; it must attach to a prefix such as 'right-' or 'left-'.
She is a left-hand player.
She is a left-handed player.
The compound adjective requires the '-ed' suffix, unlike 'left-hand' which means 'on the left side'.

2. used after a word such as 'one-' or 'two-' to describe an action done with a par

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

used after a word such as 'one-' or 'two-' to describe an action done with a particular number of hands

Example

Talia made a spectacular one-handed catch near the edge of the field.

compound adjective one-handed modifying catch (sports context)

Christopher lifted a heavy two-handed sword above his head before the battle.

Common collocations
  • one-handed
  • two-handed
  • four-handed

Grammar Patterns

prefix + handed (compound adjective)

Usage Note

Describes how an action is performed using a particular number of hands. Appears in compound adjectives like 'one-handed' and 'two-handed'. Unlike Sense 1 (KIND OF HANDS), this sense often modifies actions or objects rather than describing a person's inherent hand type.

Common Mistakes

He made a one-hand catch.
He made a one-handed catch.
The compound adjective requires the '-ed' suffix even when describing the use of a single hand.
She opened the jar one-handedly.
She opened the jar one-handed.
'one-handed' can function as an adverb without adding '-ly'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

While 'handed' itself rarely appears alone, its compound forms are essential for describing hand preference and hand state. 'Left-handed' and 'right-handed' are the most common — they describe which hand a person naturally uses for writing, throwing, or other fine motor tasks. 'Empty-handed' shifts the meaning entirely to describe carrying or holding nothing, and can apply to anyone regardless of hand preference. 'Ambidextrous' refers to the rare ability to use both hands equally well. These compounds follow different grammatical patterns: 'left-handed' and 'right-handed' typically modify people ('a left-handed pitcher'), while 'empty-handed' usually acts as an adverb describing how someone does something ('she returned empty-handed'). For example: 'About ten percent of the population is left-handed, but very few people are truly ambidextrous.'

left-handed ↗right-handed ↗empty-handed ↗ambidextrous

Common collocations

Phrases

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed from 'hand' (from Old English 'hand, hond', meaning the end of the arm) plus the adjective-forming suffix '-ed', which means 'having' or 'characterized by'. The pattern of combining direction words or number words with '-handed' (e.g., 'right-handed') has been used in English since the Old English period.