Illustration of backhand
- backhand 1a
back·hand
ˈbak-ˌhand 
1
a
: a stroke (as in tennis) made with the back of the hand turned in the direction of movement
also
: the side on which such strokes are made
b
: a catch (as in baseball) made to the side of the body opposite the hand being used
2
: handwriting whose strokes slant downward from left to right
: made with a backhand
a backhand tennis stroke
backhanded; backhanding; backhands
: to do, hit, or catch backhand
Examples of backhand in a Sentence
Noun
She has a good backhand but a weak forehand.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kevin Kurz, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
Victoria Azarenka plays a backhand against Iga Swiatek of Poland in their second round match during day three of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, part of the Hologic WTA Tour at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Feb. 18, 2025.
—Jessica Golden, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2025
Dylan Bumbarger, oregonlive, 26 Nov. 2022
Dalton, who has four game-winning goals this season, beat Quinnipiac goalie Logan Angers with a backhand shot 11:42, then Emma Seitz scores from point-blank range from in front of the right circle at 16:21.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 21 Jan. 2023
Dallas News, 30 Jan. 2022
When one last backhand by Nadal found the net, Tiafoe put his hands on his head.
—Howard Fendrich, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022
Jim Hoehn, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2025
After a strong forecheck, Sturm took control of the puck behind the Devils and backhanded a pass intended for Carl Grundstrom toward the front.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for backhand
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Noun
Brink charged in on a partial breakaway, moving to his backhand and lifting it past Johansson.
—Kevin Kurz, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
Victoria Azarenka plays a backhand against Iga Swiatek of Poland in their second round match during day three of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, part of the Hologic WTA Tour at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Feb. 18, 2025.
—Jessica Golden, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
The Winterhawks don’t get back as a give-and-go between Korchinski and Schaefer in the neutral zone creates a 2-on-1, and Korchinski quickly makes a backhand feed to Crnkovic in front.
—Dylan Bumbarger, oregonlive, 26 Nov. 2022
Dalton, who has four game-winning goals this season, beat Quinnipiac goalie Logan Angers with a backhand shot 11:42, then Emma Seitz scores from point-blank range from in front of the right circle at 16:21.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 21 Jan. 2023
Adverb
Radulov showed backhand before pulling it to his forehand and slipping the puck past Linus Ullmark.
—Dallas News, 30 Jan. 2022
When one last backhand by Nadal found the net, Tiafoe put his hands on his head.
—Howard Fendrich, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022
Verb
Tomahawk grabbed the lead just 42 seconds in when Reilly crossed in front of the crease and backhanded it in from the right side.
—Jim Hoehn, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2025
After a strong forecheck, Sturm took control of the puck behind the Devils and backhanded a pass intended for Carl Grundstrom toward the front.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for backhand
Cite this Entry
“Backhand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backhand. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
backhand
1 of 4 noun
back·hand
-ˌhand
1
a
: a stroke (as in tennis) made with the back of the hand turned in the direction of movement
b
: a catch made with the arm across the body and the palm turned away from the body
2
: handwriting in which the letters slant to the left
backhand
2 of 4 adjective
: using or made with a backhand
backhand
3 of 4 verb
: to do, hit, or catch with a backhand
backhand
4 of 4 adverb
variants
or backhanded
ˈbak-ˈhan-dəd
: with a backhand
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