hands-on

American  

[handz-on, -awn] / ˈhændzˈɒn, -ˈɔn /

adjective

1. characterized by or involved in active personal participation in an activity; individual and direct.

   a workshop to give children hands-on experience with computers.

2. requiring manual operation, control, adjustment, or the like; not automatic or computerized.

   the old hands-on telephone switchboards.

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hands-on British  

adjective

1. involving practical experience of equipment, etc

   hands-on training in the use of computers

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Etymology

Origin of hands-on

First recorded in 1905–10; by analogy with hands-off

Example Sentences

Both have opted to skip college for a hands-on business course, soaking up whatever they can from their father and grandfather.

From Los Angeles Times

Those transformers are produced in factories that can churn out hundreds of pieces of equipment a day thanks to some automation, though they, too, require hands-on labor and designs vary from customer to customer.

From The Wall Street Journal

Her hands-on experience as a glassblower strongly informs her academic work.

From Science Daily

Once you’ve figured out where the employee stands, you can gauge how hands-on you need to be.

From The Wall Street Journal

“In the early years, focus on building hands-on habits. There’s something powerful about children actually touching and handling money — unlike adults, who mostly swipe cards or pay digitally.”

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• firsthand