right hand
1 Americannoun
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the hand that is on the right side, or the side opposite that where the heart is.
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the right side, as of a person, especially this side considered as the side of precedence or courtesy.
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a position of honor or special trust.
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an extremely efficient or reliable person or, sometimes, tool, especially a person considered as one's assistant.
adjective
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on the right.
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of, for, or with the right hand.
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most reliable, valuable, or useful, as a helper or assistant.
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Building Trades. Also
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(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.
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(of a casement sash) having the hinges on the right when seen from inside the window.
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adjective
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of, relating to, located on, or moving towards the right
a right-hand bend
this car has right-hand drive
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for use by the right hand; right-handed
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one's most valuable assistant or supporter
Etymology
Origin of right hand1
before 1000; Middle English; Old English
Origin of right-hand2
adj. use of right hand
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.
Ian Miller, 85, who has arthritis in his right hand, says he dislikes seeing different clinicians and finds short NHS appointments difficult.
From BBC
Kate was able to mirror-write a message using her right hand, call the alphabet when raps sounded, and take down a separate rapped message with her left hand, at the same time.
From Literature
Very gently, I took hold of the handle with my left hand and caught hold of the blue ring with my right hand.
From Literature
She points to the orange fence on the right hand picture which looks like a handle and the entire white canvas of the left hand painting which resembles the blade.
From BBC
He had first noticed symptoms - a weakness in his right hand - just over a year prior, he told ABC's Good Morning America.
From BBC
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.
