Wordfinder

Handy definition

hăndē
handier handiest
See word origin
Frequency:
Skillful in using one's hands; manually adroit.
adjective
3
1
Easy to manage or handle. Used of a ship.
adjective
2
0
Readily accessible or convenient in location.

Kept his cell phone handy; found a handy spot for the hammer.

adjective
2
1
Close at hand; easily reached; conveniently located; accessible.
adjective
2
1
Easily or effectively used; convenient or useful.

A handy tool; a handy reference book.

adjective
2
2
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The definition of handy is a useful or readily available person or thing, or a person who is skilled with using their hands.

An example of handy is standing on a chair to reach something high up, because it's close by; a handy chair.

An example of handy is a person who's able to fix anything; a handy man.

adjective
0
0
Easily used; saving time or work; convenient.

A handy device.

adjective
0
0
Easily managed or handled.
adjective
0
0
Clever with the hands; deft; adroit.
adjective
0
0
Capable of making simple repairs to a house, an automobile, electrical appliances, etc.
adjective
0
0
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(person) 1873-1958; U.S. composer of popular songs.
proper name
0
0
Easy to use, useful.

Some people regard duct tape as a handy fix-all.

adjective
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0
Nearby, within reach.

You wouldn’t have a screwdriver handy, would you?

adjective
0
0
(dialect) Dexterous, skilful.

She's very handy - she made all her own kitchen cupboards.

adjective
0
0

Other Word Forms

Adjective

Base Form:
handy
Comparative:
handier
Superlative:
handiest

Origin of handy

  • From Middle English, alteration of earlier hendi (“handy, skillful”), from Old English hendiġ (“skillful”) (as in listhendiġ (“skilled in art”)), from Proto-Germanic *handugaz (“handy, skillful, nimble”), from *handuz (“hand”), equivalent to hand +‎ -y. Cognate with Middle Low German handich (“skillful, apt”), Middle High German handec, hendec (“manual, hand-held”), Old Norse hǫndugr (“efficient”), Gothic (handugs, “wise, clever”).

    From Wiktionary