four-in-hand

noun

ˈfȯr-ən-ˌhand How to pronounce four-in-hand (audio)
Synonyms of four-in-handnext
1
a
: a vehicle drawn by a team of four horses driven by one person
b
: such a team of four horses
2
: a necktie tied in a slipknot with long ends overlapping vertically in front

Examples of four-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.
He was dressed in a white shirt, dusky-blue suit trousers, and a blue tie knotted, with two crisp dimples, into a four-in-hand. — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026 Most people who wear ties are familiar with the four-in-hand knot, and perhaps the Windsor and the half-Windsor. — Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2023 Steyer was one of them, a hyper-energetic San Franciscan who wore tartan ties with a four-in-hand knot, committing to bundle a historic amount of money for Democrats who’d fight climate change. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 10 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1793, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of four-in-hand was in 1793

Rhymes for four-in-hand

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Browse Nearby Words

Fourier transform
four-in-hand
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Cite this Entry

“Four-in-hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/four-in-hand. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

four-in-hand

noun
ˈfōr-ən-ˌhand, 
ˈfȯr-
: a necktie tied in a slipknot so that the ends overlap and hang down in front

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