backhand

[ bak-hand ]
See synonyms for: backhandbackhanded on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a stroke, slap, etc., made with the palm of the hand turned toward the body and the back of the hand turned in the direction of the stroke, slap, etc.

  2. (in tennis, squash, etc.) a stroke made from the side of the body opposite to that of the hand holding the racket, paddle, etc.

  1. handwriting that slopes toward the left.

adjective
  1. (in tennis, squash, etc.) of, relating to, or noting a stroke made from the side of the body opposite to that of the hand holding the racket, paddle, etc.: Compare forehand (def. 1).

adverb
  1. with the back of the hand: He hit him backhand across the face.

  2. from across the body; backhanded: She returned the ball backhand on the first serve.

verb (used with object)
  1. to strike with the back of the hand.

  2. to hit, produce, or accomplish with a backhand.

  1. to catch (a ball or the like) backhanded.

Origin of backhand

1
First recorded in 1650–60; back2 + hand

Words Nearby backhand

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use backhand in a sentence

  • There are three full-time tennis aces on site who are more than happy to improve your backhand or perfect that serve.

    Gal With a Suitcase | Jolie Hunt | February 20, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • From the moment he caught sight of her, he did not turn or take his eyes and face from her, defending himself with backhand blows.

    Four Arthurian Romances | Chretien DeTroyes
  • I would suggest that we go through the forehand and backhand strokes to make certain that we are right.

  • One of the detectives took the woman by the arm; she jerked it loose and aimed a backhand slap at him.

    Time Crime | H. Beam Piper
  • In forehand play the bowl as it courses to the jack describes its segment of a circle on the right, in backhand play on the left.

  • The first blow, aimed backhand at his bare right leg, struck his shield instead.

    Triplanetary | Edward Elmer Smith

British Dictionary definitions for backhand

backhand

/ (ˈbækˌhænd) /


noun
  1. sport

    • a stroke made across the body with the back of the hand facing the direction of the stroke

    • (as modifier): a backhand return

  2. the side on which backhand strokes are made

  1. handwriting slanting to the left

adverb
  1. with a backhand stroke

verb(tr)
  1. sport to play (a shot) backhand

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012