by hand

PHRASE

manually

Synonyms

WEAK

arduously laboriously strenuously the hard way

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.

Extreme radiation levels caused machines to break down, so some work had to be done by hand.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Hole by hole, she cut the pattern by hand, using a hair-thin steel wire and a technique that was almost monastic in its repetition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

It was built by hand, with care and attention.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

While speaking with the outlet, Russell revealed that his affinity for log cabins began in childhood, when he lived in a Rangeley, Maine, cabin constructed by hand by his grandfather in 1939.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

I found myself thinking about how to best lean into turns so that the mower wouldn’t leave rough patches that needed to be trimmed by hand.

From "Lawn Boy" by Gary Paulsen