Definitions

close at hand

[klohs-uht-hand] / ˈkloʊs ətˈhænd /

ADJECTIVE

convenient

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accessible available handy immediate

WEAK

adjacent adjoining all around at elbows at fingertips at hand central close close-at-hand close-by contiguous easy to reach in neighborhood next next door nigh on deck on tap under one's nose within reach

Antonyms

WEAK

awkward distant far out-of-the-way unavailable

ADJECTIVE

future

Synonyms

STRONGEST

eventual forthcoming imminent impending planned prospective subsequent ultimate

STRONG

approaching coming final inevitable unfolding

WEAK

booked budgeted coming up destined down the line down the pike down the road fated from here in from here on from here to eternity from now on in in the cards in the course of time in the offing just around the corner later likely looked toward near next scheduled to-be ulterior unborn up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

distant later past

ADJECTIVE

handy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accessible available close-by convenient

STRONG

close ready

WEAK

adjacent at hand close-at-hand near near-at-hand on hand within reach

Antonyms

STRONGEST

unavailable unhandy

WEAK

faraway inconvenient

ADJECTIVE

near

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adjacent adjoining immediate nearby neighboring warm

STRONG

abutting bordering burning close nigh ready touching

WEAK

abreast along toward alongside approximal around at close quarters available beside close shave close-at-hand close-by conterminous contiguous convenient hair's breadth handy in close proximity near-at-hand next door not remote practically proximal proximate side-by-side vincinal within stone's throw

Antonyms

STRONGEST

away detached distant far faraway separate

STRONG

cool

WEAK

deferred expired gone past postponed remote unfamiliar

ADJECTIVE

nearby

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adjacent neighboring

WEAK

close close-at-hand close-by contiguous convenient handy immediate proximate ready

Antonyms

WEAK

far faraway

ADVERB

around

Synonyms

STRONGEST

about almost approximately nearby

WEAK

near

ADVERB

beside

Synonyms

WEAK

a step from abreast of adjacent to adjoining alongside aside at one's elbow at the edge of at the side of bordering on by cheek by jowl close to close upon connected with contiguous to fornent in juxtaposition near nearby neck and neck neighboring next door to nigh opposite overlooking round side by side verging on with

ADVERB

nearby

Synonyms

STRONGEST

near

WEAK

about at close quarters close hard near-at-hand nigh not far away

Antonyms

WEAK

far faraway

ADVERB

thereabout

Synonyms

WEAK

almost approximately around in the neighborhood in the vicinity just about near nearby nearly roughly

PREPOSITION

alongside

Synonyms

WEAK

along the side of apace with at the side of beside by by the side of close-by equal with in company with next to parallel to side by side

Antonyms

WEAK

away

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.

Mr. Weidensaul explores the practice of “rewilding,” a concept that might be foreign to Americans accustomed to having large tracts of public and private wildlands close at hand.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

First, don’t trade too much; second, only buy losers when you are confident that a market bottom is close at hand and a big recovery will follow.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

I’ve never felt my femininity to be particularly close at hand, and certainly on “Pure Heroine,” I don’t think there’s any gender attached to that narrator.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 2, 2025

The images tell a simple story: that chaos hovers close at hand, and that order, however fragile, depends on him.

From Slate • Aug. 25, 2025

No, I'm certain it was real and very close at hand, too.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

close at hand

Example Sentences

Related Words