Are you wondering what it means when someone holds your hand?
Perhaps you're aware that it doesn't always mean that someone is attracted to you, but maybe you don't know how to interpret when it does mean this?
If so, this is the article for you. It features a foolproof guide for how to tell when holding hands means something more.
Scroll down to learn more about what it means when your crush – or anyone else – holds your hand.
Table of Contents
According to research, hand-holding releases Oxytocin, the feel-good/love hormone. Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter that allows humans to develop deeper trust and connection with one another. It also decreases fear and anxiety. So, it’s no wonder men and women alike love holding hands, especially with a loved one.
Despite the fact that holding hands may seem like a somewhat small and insignificant gesture/display of affection, when it comes to dating, especially early on in a relationship, holding hands can feel like a pretty big step, and that’s because it actually is.
Humans generally only hold hands as a form of intimacy and as a way to strengthen their bond. So, if a guy takes your hand, he’s probably pretty into you!
Based on my personal experience, if a guy is making such an intimate gesture, you can pretty safely assume he sees you as more than just a friend. However, context is also important in this situation.
As mentioned above, context is important. So, let’s take a look at a couple of different scenarios:
Think about it, generally when you see two people holding hands you automatically assume they’re together and in love. Humans crave physical contact and touch, and just like kissing, cuddling, and foreplay, hand-holding releases Oxytocin - and that feels so good!
If a guy holds your hand in public, it’s a romantic gesture that shows that he wants a deeper connection with you. It’s also his way of showing others that you’re his and he’s proud of it.
Holding hands in public can be seen as a big step in the early days of dating, even though it’s a small gesture because it’s a way of making sure the public knows you’re both involved with someone.
Holding someone’s hand can also be a way of providing them with protection. If you’ve ever held hands with someone you love, you’ll be able to relate to the feelings of safety, comfort, and protection it provides.
Next time a guy holds your hand, it could be because he wants you to know that you’re safe when you’re with him.
If he holds your hand often, it means he loves being around you and having you in his personal space. This intimate gesture shows he cares about you and has feelings for you.
So, next time he grabs your hand in public, in bed, or in any setting, really, take it as a sign that he loves having you around.
Physical touch is very important in any intimate relationship because it strengthens the bond between two people. Holding hands is a way of displaying affection and bonding as more than just friends.
Next time, take note of the way he holds your hand - interlocking fingers, rubbing your thumb while holding hands, or if a guy squeezes your hand while holding it are all sure signs he’s into you and wants to deepen the connection.
If a guy holds your hand it might be his way of hinting that he doesn’t want to be rejected by you. Many men fear being rejected in intimate relationships and him taking your hand could be his way of seeking reassurance. It could be his way of subtly telling you that he wants to be with you.
If a guy holds your hand in front of others, it’s his way of warding off anyone else who might have their eyes on you.
On the contrary, it might also be his way of avoiding any potentially uncomfortable or flirtatious situation with other women.
If he holds your hand in public, you can rest assured that he’s probably not a player. This simple yet intimate gesture, shows everyone else that he’s happily involved.
Before making any other big moves, he might try holding hands with you to see where he stands with you and what your reaction is like. If you reject him, there’s very little chance he will try anything else because it’ll be an obvious sign that you’re not into it.
If, on the other hand, you’re receptive to holding hands, he might be more confident to make bolder relationship moves because it’ll reassure him of your feelings for him.
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If a guy is in love with you, he’s going to want to hold hands regularly. Holding hands is an easy way to show affection, deepen intimacy through physical touch, and express love. Holding hands is sure to give you a feel-good buzz that, in time, deepens your feelings for each other.
If a man is holding your hand in public, it straight away means that he’s into you and wants to be your partner!
When a man goes to hold your hand in front of other people, he’s showing himself to be vulnerable in front of you, and he is more than happy to show this vulnerability simply because he knows that he will be much happier holding your hand, than miss the opportunity to touch each other.
He will also be happy to show this vulnerability because he knows it’ll make you happy to hold hands with him.
If he puts his hand on top of yours, it shows that he’s trying to tell you that you can rely on him and that he will make sure you’re safe and happy. You should experience a feeling of security and comfort when a guy does this, and that’s exactly what he’s hoping for.
If someone holds your hand with interlaced fingers, it’s because they want to feel close to you and develop a more serious kind of intimacy between the two of you – they want to be a couple and start a proper relationship.
When a guy holds your hand while interlocking fingers increases the depth of the gesture and his connection with you, and shows you that he’s serious about starting a relationship.
If he sits or stands face-to-face with you whilst he holds your hand, or both of your hands, it’s a sure sign that he is emotionally interested in you and wants a relationship with you.
In fact, it’s probably safe to say that he’s already developed a connection with you and is most likely falling in love with. When a guy holds your hands like this, he’s most likely saying sweet things to you at the same time, or he’s ready to lean in for a kiss.
If you find a man stroking your hand with his fingertips or gently massaging your hand while he’s got a grip of it, it’s because he wants to make you feel comforted and loved, and he wants to deepen the connection the two of you have with each other.
Someone that’s doing this will obviously be romantically interested in you, especially seeing as this is typically a type of hand-holding that couples do.
If he gets a good grip of your hand while you’re both around other guys, it’s because he wants to show them that you’ve taken and that he’s the one you’re with.
Obviously, he’s doing this so that no one else makes a move because he likes you. The grip shouldn’t be too hard, but it will be an assertive kind of grip, showing others that you’re his significant other and that they shouldn’t come near.
If a person puts their arm around you and then gestures for you to take their hand as well, it’s a sure sign that they’re seriously interested in having a relationship with you and that they want to be a couple.
He’s choosing to have this body language like this so that he can get close to you, and almost take up the space that you’re in.
Even though it might sometimes be a little corny (associated with lots of movies), a person kissing you on your hand is an unbelievably romantic way for them to show you that they want to be a couple.
They will be kissing you there to make sure you know, loud and clear, that they want a romantic relationship with you and want to be your partner.
Men also think that women love this, so they will give it a go! They are just trying to flirt with you and impress you in an obvious way. Also, they might kiss you a lot, not just once, so be prepared!
A woman typically has much smaller hands than a man, and men obviously know this, so they use it to their advantage a lot of the time. A man will take both of a woman’s hands in his to make her feel safe, secure, and comforted by him.
He may also do this while saying kind words, to deepen the connection, enhance feelings, and create a more intimate moment.
Men clearly do this when they want to start a relationship.
Although you may walk arm in arm with others that you have platonic relationships with (women and men potentially), a man that puts your arm through his whilst you’re walking along is a man that is trying to give you obvious signs that he not only wants to hold your hand and touch you physically but that he wants a romantic relationship with you, too.
A man might squeeze your hand if he is teasing you, joking around with you, or trying to show you that he likes you. If a man squeezes your hand three times, it’s actually a coded way of saying, “I like you.”
A man might do this if he is trying to show you that he likes you through touch and actions, rather than through words because he’s shy or nervous.
If a guy holds your hand while driving or puts his hand on your lap, it’s a sure sign he’s into you. It’s his way of showing affection and protection all at once. He might even do this subconsciously, which is an even bigger sign that he has true feelings for you.
You might agree that there are very few things that feel as good as holding your crush’s hand while driving along to your favorite songs.
In this case, holding hands means he’s trying to protect you and show you that he cares for your safety and well-being.
If you’ve only recently started seeing each other and want to test the waters to see just how into you he is, reach for his hand next time you’re crossing a busy street. If he takes your hand, interlocks fingers, and is slow to let go of your hand, it’s a sure sign he’s into you.
If, on the other hand, he doesn’t do any of this, perhaps he’s shy - not everyone is into public displays of affection or, perhaps, he doesn’t see you as anything more than a friend.
This is a really obvious, reassuring sign that the man you’re with is serious about you and your relationship together. If he holds your hand in front of your family or his, it’s a big step in the right direction. Holding hands in this scenario is sure to give everyone around a positive feeling about the relationship.
A guy holding your hand in front of family is a kind way to reassure you that he’s got your back and is serious about you. It shows support and validation in an unfamiliar situation, which is very reassuring and shows the type of guy he is. You’ve got yourself a keeper!
Holding hands on a first date isn’t for everyone. Some people prefer to get to know someone better before holding hands. If you don’t feel comfortable, don’t feel obliged to hold hands on a first date.
However, holding hands on a first date is also not uncommon or taboo. It’s simply a nice way to show someone you care and are interested in them. Another reason he might be into holding hands on a first date is because he’s an anxious person and it’s his way of feeling calmer and more connected.
Whatever the reason is, don’t overthink holding hands on a first date. Go with whatever you feel comfortable with.
Holding hands is a sign of love, even if it’s not romantic love. Most commonly, people in romantic relationships will hold hands, but parents and children, and even friends do so too. If you hold hands with someone, it’s because you genuinely care for them and want to show them affection, even when you’re in public. It shows that you’re a pair, and potentially that the person you’re holding hands with is your partner!
You will be able to tell if a man is falling for you if he’s trying to spend more and more time with you, if he’s complimenting you, if he’s trying to get you alone, if he’s trying to figure out if you have any other partners or someone else, if he’s using excuses to be close to you and touch you, and if his body language is telling you. If a guy likes you, he will try to touch and hold you, even if he tries to do it in a casual or jokey way to try and disguise his feelings.
Holding hands is thought by a large majority of people to be a more intimate act than kissing. This is because although kissing typically happens between a couple, you can kiss a one-night stand or someone that you actually don’t have feelings for. However, holding hands is a way of showing affection for a loved one and showing that you’re partners, especially if it’s done in public.
As mentioned, there are a variety of different situations where a guy might want to hold your hand. Holding hands doesn’t necessarily mean he’s interested in you as more than friends, although, in my opinion, most guys will only hold your hand if they are interested in you and are developing feelings for you.
Other scenarios where a guy might hold your hand even if he isn’t interested, include:
Him showing his concern for you.
Him trying to protect you.
Yes, absolutely! Holding hands on a first date is a cute way to bond, get to know each other better, and show some form of intimacy. As mentioned, I wouldn’t overthink this small gesture, just go with whatever feels right to you on the first date.
If you weren’t really sure what the different types of hand-holding meant before now, or you didn’t know if holding hands meant more, now you can go out into the world using the knowledge you’ve learned and confirmed whether or not men are interested in you by looking at their actions!
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