If something is at hand, near at hand, or close at hand, it is very near in place or time.
Having the right equipment at hand will be enormously helpful.
Realizing that his retirement was near at hand, he looked for some additional income.
Synonyms: approaching, near, imminent, just round the corner More Synonyms of at hand
See full dictionary entry for hand
at hand in British English
or near at hand
very near or close, esp in time
See full dictionary entry for hand
at hand in American English
1.
near; close by
2.
immediately available
See full dictionary entry for hand
Examples of 'at hand' in a sentence
at hand
A company that comes into the area knows they've got support close at hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She had a solution close at hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
One glance told her of the danger close at hand.
L. Frank Baum The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
It looked as thick as could be and close at hand in the south.
Eric Newby A BOOK OF LANDS AND PEOPLES (2003)
Relief may be near at hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Again we heard the terrifying cries, this time near at hand and coming toward us.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
It is close at hand, urgent and loud.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It has peaceful views over fields, yet help and company are still close at hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Food is always close at hand when the sufferer is hurting - people are not.
Wilkinson, Helena Beyond Chaotic Eating (1993)
Close at hand, a mature female elephant lumbered by.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Afterwards, lunch is close at hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I always keep his books near at hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They also resented the wealth and privileges of their local clergy, and especially of those monasteries near at hand.
Christianity Today (2000)
For overstretched executives struggling to secure profits or future growth for their company, help may be closer at hand than they think.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Many people also visited their own great buildings and monuments nearer at hand, for sightseeing and exhibitions and shows were tightly linked together.
Judith Flanders Consuming Passions: Leisure and Pleasure in Victorian Britain (2006)
We have also now witnessed close at hand the magic of being part of the Olympic Family.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The M4 and M40 motorways are close at hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
If you want something a little more cultured and decorous, it's close at hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
There was no cessation, but sometimes a crescendo, when it had the volume of thunder near at hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Then it's close at hand when I need it.
Guyton, Anita The Natural Beauty Book - cruelty-free cosmetics to make at home (1991)
All related terms of 'at hand'
near at hand
very close in time or space
at first hand
If you learn or experience something at first hand , you experience it yourself or learn it directly rather than being told about it by other people.
at second hand
If you experience something at second hand , you are told about it by other people rather than experiencing it yourself.
(at) first hand
from the original source; directly
(at) second hand
not from the original source; indirectly
at someone's hand
from
at the hand of
through the action of
close by/at hand
Something that is close by or close at hand is near to you.
at sb's right hand
If someone is at a person's right hand , they work closely with that person so they can help and advise them.
try one's hand at
to attempt (to do something), esp. for the first time
a dab hand at something
very good at doing something
try your hand at something
to try doing something in order to see whether you like it or whether you are good at it