What does "open-handed" mean?
simple past and past participle of open-hand
Open-handed
adj, adv, verb
adj, adv, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: simple past and past participle of open-hand
- Grammar: open-handed is listed as adj, adv, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: altruistic, benevolent, charitable, free.
- Useful contrasts: thriftiest.
- Usage evidence: Hitters use the open-handed tip to try to softly place the ball over the blockers or into other open areas of the opponent's court.
How to use "open-handed"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "open-handed" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "open-handed" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "open-handed" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "open-handed" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "open-handed" is acting as adj, adv, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "altruistic" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "open-handed", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 simple past and past participle of open-hand form-of, participle, past
Adjective
- 1 Done with the hand open rather than clenched
"Hitters use the open-handed tip to try to softly place the ball over the blockers or into other open areas of the opponent's court."
- 2 Liberal and generous.
"'No, no,' said the undertaker; 'not an open-handed gentleman in general, by any means. There you mistake him; but an afflicted gentleman, an affectionate gentleman, who knows what it is in the power of money to do, in giving him relief, and in testifying his love and veneration for the departed.'"
- 3 Frank, honest, and tolerant.
"Despite Gustavus' open-handed dealing, many princes of Europe did not trust him."
- 4 Characterized by looseness and fullness.
"She sat there for more than three hours, as sheet after sheet became covered with her open-handed writing."
Adverb
- 1 With an open hand or hands.
"Winding their way to the land of snow and ice they saw approaching a band of warriors covered with emblems of peace,and, leaving their stony weapons in care of the younger braves, they walked open-handed to meet the strangers."
- 2 Generously.
"The money here was given open-handed, and Parliament was not to be informed what was to be done with it."
Antonyms
Example
"Hitters use the open-handed tip to try to softly place the ball over the blockers or into other open areas of the opponent's court."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "open-handed"?
Common synonyms include: altruistic, benevolent, charitable, free, generous, generous.
How do you use "open-handed" in a sentence?
Hitters use the open-handed tip to try to softly place the ball over the blockers or into other open areas of the opponent's court.
Etymology
From open + handed.