AT HAND

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does at hand mean? 

• AT HAND (adjective)
  The adjective AT HAND has 2 senses:

1. close in space; within reach

2. close in time; about to occur

  Familiarity information: AT HAND used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AT HAND (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Close in space; within reach

Synonyms:

at hand; close at hand

Context example:

the town is close at hand

Similar:

close (at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Close in time; about to occur

Synonyms:

at hand; close at hand; imminent; impendent; impending

Context example:

his impending retirement

Similar:

close (at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other)

 Context examples 

The time was at hand when the coach was to call for us.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The erasure of summer was at hand.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Therefore the room where company meet who practise this art, is full of all things, ready at hand, requisite to furnish matter for this kind of artificial converse.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

It was fortunate that tea was at hand, to produce a lull and provide refreshment—for they would have been hoarse and faint if they had gone on much longer.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

One glance told her of the danger close at hand.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

He spent half the day extending his campfire to the tree, at any moment a half dozen burning faggots ready at hand to fling at his enemies.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Saturn will demand you be realistic and focus strongly on the tasks at hand, forsaking other activities for the lion’s share of the month.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

A shrill little whistle, piping as if gone mad, came from directly ahead and from very near at hand.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

There was no one in the kitchen or in the servants' rooms, which were close at hand.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

He was lounging upon the sofa in a purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly studied, near at hand.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)