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.

“This structure ensures parents stay in the driver’s seat during the learning years, while giving kids real, hands-on experience that prepares them for financial independence,” Jennifer Seitz, Greenlight’s director of education, told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

Proton’s customer support prioritizes self-service, which may not satisfy users who want immediate, hands-on assistance from actual humans.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

“Kids in the preschool and kindergarten years really benefit from hands-on play and tactile learning experiences,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

He has previously said as a vice chairman in charge of Berkshire’s noninsurance operations that he is more hands-on than his predecessor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

I’d managed to connect with a group of professional women and form a kind of chatty, hands-on social cluster.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama