two-handed

[ too-han-did ]

adjective

1. having two hands.
2. using both hands equally well; ambidextrous.
3. involving or requiring the use of both hands:

   a two-handed sword; a two-handed backhand.

4. requiring the hands of two persons to operate:

   a two-handed saw.

5. engaged in by two persons:

   a two-handed game.

two-handed

adjective

1. requiring the use of both hands
2. ambidextrous
3. requiring the participation or cooperation of two people

Derived Forms

• ˌtwo-ˈhandedly, adverb

Other Words From

• two-handed·ly adverb
• two-handed·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of two-handed¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

But the teenager kept her nerve and calmly moved through the second and third set, using a powerful two-handed backhand and delicate drop shots to good effect.

From BBC

The German plays right-handed but uses a two-handed backhand.

From Seattle Times

Depicting an old-style, two-handed throwing form, it looks a bit like a muscular nudist leaning back to hand a loaf of bread to someone behind him in a crowd.

From New York Times

As for the parameters defining that amorphous cringe episode, was it the forced two-handed clutching that made you recoil like a vampire before garlic, or Barrymore’s uncomfortable close talking?

From Salon

After a Miami miss, Brown followed that up with a drive and spin move past Jaime Jaquez Jr. for a two-handed dunk.

From Seattle Times