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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

And so it was she found herself in the library, with her new fountain pen close at hand and no time to waste.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood