hands-on

[handz-on, -awn] / ˈhændzˈɒn, -ˈɔn /

ADJECTIVE

active participation; experiential

Synonyms

STRONGEST

firsthand

STRONG

manual primary

WEAK

direct experienced explicit immediate individual intimate

Antonyms

STRONGEST

automatic computerized impersonal indirect

WEAK

second-hand

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.

That hands-on experience with sending and receiving money can build a kind of financial fluency.

From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026

"He was considered a hands-on and controversial chair," said Kathleen Brooks, research director at trading group XTB.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

"What we need is a leader that is hands-on, that has a lot of energy, that knows the system, that can be the first to arrive to prevent a conflict," she said.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

Goodwill’s 5% is partially due to self-selection, but its success comes from being hands-on.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026

This letter signifies the start of a crucial new phase in Lawrences transformation from hands-on physicist to fund-raising impresario.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik