handy
1 Americanadjective
-
within easy reach; conveniently available; accessible.
The aspirins are handy.
-
convenient or useful.
A digital thermometer is a handy thing to have at home.
-
skillful with the hands; deft; dexterous.
a handy person.
- Synonyms:
- versatile, all-around
-
easily maneuvered.
a handy ship.
- Synonyms:
- yare, wieldy, manageable
noun
adjective
-
conveniently or easily within reach
-
easy to manoeuvre, handle, or use
a handy tool
-
skilful with one's hands
noun
Related Words
See dexterous.
Other Word Forms
- handiness noun
Etymology
Origin of handy
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English (in surnames); see hand, -y 1
Explanation
Someone who's handy is skilled and clever, especially when it comes to making or fixing things. If you're handy in the kitchen, you're a good cook. A carpenter tends to be handy with a saw or a hammer, and if you're good at sewing, you're handy with a needle and thread. Another meaning of handy is "useful" or "convenient." Your laptop is handy because you use it for all kinds of things, and your smartphone is handy because you always keep it in your pocket — it's right there when you need it.
Vocabulary lists containing handy
Words from the 4th of July Songbook
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Father's Day Words
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-y
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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.
However you’d like your day to unfold, consider this map your handy guide.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026
McCardel’s consulting experience came in handy as he worked with clients to understand their business model and build relationships.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026
Such status could come in handy if consumers tighten their budgets on the back of broader inflation and higher interest rates.
From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026
It was a group powered by caffeine, Johnston said, and their coffee came in handy when they needed a liquid prop to do quick demos with the prototypes to test their absorbency.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
“I have to commend you two on all your extra practice. It will come in handy one day, I’m sure.”
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
