Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

single-handed

/sˈɪŋɡəlhˈændɪd/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.38 in modern English

Syllables: sin-gle-hand-ed
IPA: /sˈɪŋɡəlhˈændɪd/

18

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

4

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Without help from others; unassisted.

adj

Using only one hand.

adj

Designed for only one hand.

adv

In a single-handed manner.

verb

simple past and past participle of single-hand

Example Sentences

"It worked through from Swindon with a test train of 16 coaches and the new W.R. dynamometer car, the whole totalling 571 tons; this is one of the heaviest trains ever worked by a single-handed locomotive over the South Devon banks—in fact, it was competently restarted from a test stop on Dainton bank."
"I've been holding my family together single-handed."
""Got those [sc. scars] with a broken bottle, arresting two toughs at once," he said, replacing his cap. "Run them in single-handed and had a set-to in the cell with them on top of it.""

Inflected Forms

single handed (alternative) singlehanded (alternative)

Phrases

single-handedly single-handedness

Synonyms

by oneself unassisted unbacked single-handedly

Rhymes With

right-handed left-handed red-handed empty-handed branded commanded stranded remanded disbanded banded sanded underhanded

Questions

How do you pronounce single-handed?: The recorded pronunciation is /sˈɪŋɡəlhˈændɪd/.
What does single-handed mean?: Without help from others; unassisted.

How to pronounce single-handed

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “single-handed”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/sˈɪŋɡəlhˈændɪd/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “single-handed”.
Repeat and practice — Say “single-handed” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.