hands-on 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of hands-onnext
as in direct
actively and personally involved in something Supervisors at the company are expected to take a hands-on role in the projects of their subordinates.

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hands on

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of hand on
as in passes (down)

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hands-on
Adjective
Warga recommends bringing product and engineering talent directly into HR leadership teams, then learning from those hires to develop hands-on fluency with AI tools. — Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026 With limited hands-on time, coders largely had to envision how their apps would show up using simulators on other Apple devices. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 23 Oct. 2026 The initiative will also offer mentorship and hands-on exposure to careers in stagecraft, design and production for Y members from ages 16 to 24, and talk-backs connecting live theater to the Y’s civic leadership programs. — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 Each of the five covers below was recommended by editors at The Spruce Pets, Martha Stewart or Real Simple after hands-on testing or expert review. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hands-on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hands-on
  1. direct
  2. active
  3. primary
Adjective
  • The university introduced an aerospace engineering degree this fall, giving students a direct connection to emerging aviation systems.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
  • There is no working alternative to Starlink, which has put a massive constellation of low-earth satellites into orbit, and no direct competitor comes close.
    — Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of direct
Adjective
  • This theory, also known as active inference or the free energy principle, has become one of the most important frameworks in neuroscience for understanding how the brain works as a whole.
    — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Residents have been bracing to see what El Niño has in store this winter after an active hurricane season that has dramatically reshaped many of Southern California’s most famous beaches, including in San Clemente and adjacent Capistrano Beach.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of active
Adjective
  • The Heat used Larsson, Portis, Hardaway and Nikola Jovic as its four primary reserves for the third straight game to start the season.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
  • One thing most agree on is that the diminishment of competitive seats leads to greater polarization because legislators are only beholden to primary voters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of primary

Browse Nearby Words

handsomeness
hands-on
hands on
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Cite this Entry

“Hands-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hands-on. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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