We’re here to tell you all about what holding hands means to a guy, covering different scenarios, stages of a relationship, and intimacy. Because it can have different connotations. For instance, the answer to what does it mean when a guy holds your hand and you are not dating isn’t the same as what it means when your boyfriend of five years holds your hand while driving. So, let’s explore what this gesture signifies and what it means for your future with this fine fella. Broadly put, holding hands is a form of reassuring someone by affirming your presence in their life. However, it could have more than a million interpretations which could leave you confused. While decoding all of them would be impossible, let’s try to find out what it means when a guy holds your hand, especially the one you have in mind!
What Does Holding Hands Mean To A Guy?
Intimacy comes differently to all of us. Everyone chooses to show their affection in a different way or form. What holding hands means to a guy is a question we’ve all asked ourselves at least once, especially at those initial stages of a relationship where you don’t know where you stand and where things are going to lead. For instance, the question of what does it mean when a guy holds your hand and you are not dating is sure to keep you up at night, as you come up with different interpretations of this fleeting but unmistakably intimate action. Holding someone’s hand could be for the most intimate or the most platonic reason that there is. Being one of the mutual attraction signs, we look for the one we love, to hold onto when we’re scared or feeling low. It gives us comfort, security and a sense of being home. “Can somebody tell me what holding hands means to a guy?” asked Jocelyn, a reader from Alabama. Adding, “It was just our second date, and it honestly didn’t seem like he was too interested. To my surprise, he decided to lock his fingers with mine while he was walking me home. I was left baffled, more so because it took him a day to text me after that!” Similarly, understanding what it means when a guy holds your hand while interlocking fingers can get a bit confusing. Especially if he throws in some mixed signals with it as well. Whose hand do you look for when you desperately need someone? What does it mean when he looks for yours? What does it mean when a guy holds your hand? Does holding hands mean dating? Or is he just doing it without thinking much of it? Let’s look at different circumstances and try to understand what holding hands means to a guy and answer all your questions:
1. Have you noticed if he holds your hand in public?
Don’t we all hope for people in our lives who are proud of us and want to show us off to the world? We all deserve someone who screams off roof-tops about their love for us. Okay, not literally, because that might be a little overboard. But you get our point, right? Getting a guy who isn’t afraid to hold your hand in public isn’t a lot to ask for. Does holding hands mean anything? It sure does, especially if it’s out in public. Public display of affection can be intimidating for a lot of people and not everyone can or wants to engage in it. While that is understandable and quite normal, if a guy usually seems to show no hesitation in displays of affection with his friends, he shouldn’t shy away and must hold your hand in public at the very least. Right? Holding the hand of the one you love in public proclaims your love for them louder than you think. It shows other people that you’re comfortable with accepting your love and that you are confident about it. Think about it, would a guy hold your hand if he wasn’t interested, that too in public? Most definitely not! So, if he reaches for your hand when you’re surrounded by people, count it as a sign that he’s fallen for you, head over heels. Pro tip boys: Do not ever let go of her hand in public, especially if she reaches out for yours!
2. Is your guy holding your hand while driving?
Does he often reach out for your hand while he’s behind the steering wheel? That has to be one of the best feelings ever, right? According to us, if you have someone who holds your hand while driving and humming his favorite tune to himself, you’ve got yourself a keeper! When you’re trying to figure out what holding hands says about your relationship, the situation it’s happening in can tell you a lot about what’s going on. If he holds your hand while driving, it probably means he thinks about you subconsciously as well. Maybe he thinks of you as a particular song comes on the radio and he grabs your hand without a second thought. Men who hold onto your hand even as they switch gears are guaranteed to never switch their lovers. He’s definitely in it for the long haul. You may even count it as a sign he wants to marry you someday. Okay, that might be taking it too far, but how can you not get blown away at this romantic gesture? If your guy is into holding your hand while driving, the next time you go out on a drive, take his hand in yours as a gesture to show that you notice the little things too. Couple holding hands while driving is a flex. You know as well as we do that it’s one of the best feelings ever too. So soak it in, cherish it. Maybe make holding hands while driving your ritual as a couple.
3. When a guy holds your hand while crossing the road…
A little extra care and love never hurt anyone, did it? Crossing busy roads can be confusing and scary but if there’s someone who holds on to your hand amidst the chaos, it feels easier. If he holds your hand while crossing the road, it tells us how much he cares for your well-being, even in confusing situations. If the vibe is right, crossing the road can also be the perfect opportunity for holding hands with someone you’re not dating. If you want to test the waters and see if he’s crushing on you as hard as you’re on him, maybe try reaching for his hand the next time you’re in the middle of a busy street. If he reciprocates and clutches your hand right back, you know you’ve got yourself a love story in the offing. After all, would a guy hold your hand if he wasn’t interested? Of course, if he doesn’t reciprocate or initiate it, maybe you’ve got to pay a bit more attention to the question, “What does holding hand mean to a guy?” Perhaps he doesn’t like doing it, or maybe he doesn’t see you in that way. So, if he holds your hand almost every time you get down the car to cross the road, you’ve got to thank your lucky stars. This would definitely be someone who would always be there for you as a situation goes out of hand or messy. So, what does it mean when a guy holds your hand while walking? Judy said, “I knew he was the one for me as soon as he held my hand while crossing the road and switched sides with me to shield me from the heavy traffic.” For her, it was the ultimate declaration of love and care.
4. When a guy squeezes your hand while holding it…
As children, we often clung to our parents’ hands after watching a horror movie and squeezed them tight. When a guy squeezes your hand while holding it, it signifies just how much you mean to them or that they’re afraid to lose you in the future. If your man squeezes your hand while holding it, you should try asking him if everything is okay, since the answer to, “What holding hands means to a guy?” could have very different meanings for the guy.
It could just be his way of expressing the intensity of his love for you, but it never hurts to check in. Moreover, studies suggest that holding hands with someone can decrease stress and relax a person. So when you’re wondering what holding hands means to a guy, you must consider the possibility that perhaps he just needed some comfort.
If you feel that something is amiss, a few follow-up questions are always good in a healthy relationship. Needless to say, when someone gives your hand a gentle squeeze, you should return the romantic gesture if you feel the same way.
Maybe if he’s holding hands while driving and then squeezes it tightly, you can pull this hand closer and plant a kiss. It is one of the many ways to show how close you are to a person or how intimate your relationship is. When your feelings for each other are genuine and intense, you don’t always need words to express them.
So, the next time he holds your hand and squeezes it a bit, don’t concern yourself with questions like, “Does holding hands mean anything?” he’s clearly trying to be as cute as he can, go ahead and give his hand a little kiss.
5. When a guy holds your hand while interlocking fingers…
Interlocking your fingers with someone has to be the most intimate form of holding someone’s hand. If a guy holds on to your hand and interlocks the fingers, he’s all over you! We reach out to our friends for a lot of reasons, but when someone holds on to your hand and interlocks the fingers after a while, it cannot be subconscious. If it’s your boyfriend, there isn’t a surprise why he’d want to interlock the fingers. If you’ve ever wondered what does it mean when a guy holds your hand while kissing, pay attention to how he’s holding it. If you’re in the midst of an intense makeout session, in all likelihood, he has his fingers interlocked with yours. This is a clear sign of passion and desire. He wants to be closer to you, and not just physically. What does holding hand mean to a guy? Well, if someone you’ve just started dating is holding your hand with your fingers interlocked, it definitely means they feel good with you and want to establish some sort of physical contact to convey that. If it’s a guy you’ve had your eyes on for a while, it’s good news. In all likelihood, the feelings are mutual. However, it is always good to be sure about what the other person wants by clearly communicating your feelings to avoid any future awkwardness.
6. What does it mean when he holds your hand while sleeping?
Amelia said, “I do not remember a time when John did not hold my hand while sleeping. I thought it would only last a couple of weeks, but it has been eight years, and here we are, he’s still doing it.” Amelia is a lucky, lucky girl, we’d say. After all, if he holds your hand while sleeping, it can mean only one thing — you both share a deep attachment that can stand the test of time. A fact reinstated by a poll that tells us that more than 80% of people consider holding hands to be romantic. What holding hands means to a guy can be tricky to understand in certain situations but if he holds your hand while sleeping, there isn’t a sweeter way to let you know how much he cherishes your company. A lot of couples also stated that it was their way of showing their partners how much they’ve missed them the entire day at work. It’s a sign that you’ve successfully fostered different forms of intimacy in your relationship and truly connected to one another. Regardless, if your man holds your hand while sleeping, let him, and don’t worry about what holding hands says about your relationship. Trust us, it’s the cutest sign ever. It talks of their innocence and a simple need for a physical touch even as they’re dozing off after an exhausting day. It might also indicate that they’ve had a rough day and want your support to get through it.
7. When he holds your hand around family…
A guy holding your hand around family hits different. A lot of girls we spoke to reiterated this. A display of affection in front of our families may or may not be welcome. This puts a lot of pressure on you if you’re the one meeting his family for the first time, no? If you’re lucky enough, your man will help you navigate your way into his house and help you connect with everyone present. What’s to notice is if he holds your hand through the process. Holding your hand around his family could tell you a lot about how sure he is of your relationship. Perhaps, this means he is ready for an exclusive relationship. A couple holding hands while driving, interlocking fingers in their private space, or even holding hands in public is one thing, but him holding your hand in front of his family, there is not a shred of doubt that his feelings for you are genuine and intense. He’s not embarrassed to express how he feels about you and doesn’t care if his siblings and his mom are going to tease him about it over the next five Thanksgiving dinners. Claire said, “My dad loved the way my sister’s boyfriend held her hand as she went around introducing herself to his family members.” It gives a sense of support and validation in a foreign environment. Holding your hand in front of his family shows that he is fully committed to you and would never let you down.
8. What does it mean when a guy holds your hand on the first date?
It isn’t uncommon for people to hold hands the first time they meet. It isn’t the 1950s anymore! However, there’s still a lot that can be concluded about the future of the relationship when he holds your hand on the first date. Holding hands generally shows affection and a gesture of welcoming someone into your personal space. Moreover, studies suggest that holding hands with someone can help reduce any nervousness or anxiety. So, if he’s the kind who is suffering from first date nerves, he could be holding your hand to calm himself down. Does holding hands mean dating? Though the answer to that requires a conversation instead of just holding hands, it’s definitely a good sign. Some people find the act of holding hands more intimate than anything else. When a guy holds your hand on the first date, it signifies his comfort with physical touch. It tells you that he is a confident individual, who is not afraid of showing his affection. He is communicating that he is into you and would love to go out again. The question is, are you? If you’ve been wondering what does it mean when a guy holds your hand and you are not dating, the same logic holds. Given that he is making such an intimate gesture, it’s safe to assume that it is with the intent of conveying his interest in you. Now is the time to have a conversation with him and see where you stand.
9. What it means when he holds your hand and rubs his thumb…
When he holds your hand and rubs his thumb, girl, allow your heart to skip a beat. This is usually when the guy you’re with cares about you deeply and wants you to know that he’s there for you. If a guy you’re close with, holds your hand and rubs his thumb, it could be seen as a physically intimate gesture, signaling that he is into you and isn’t afraid to show his interest. Ruby, who has been with her boyfriend for over 5 years said, “When Daniel held my hand and gently rubbed his thumb on our second date, I was elated. The chemistry felt electric. He got me there.” Holding hands with someone you’re not dating or have just begun dating is without a doubt a sure-fire way to speed things along. What does it mean when a guy holds your hand while walking and rubs his thumb? It’s a clear way of showing that he cares about you and that he wanted to communicate that via a physical touch. Enjoy it while it lasts, holding hands with someone is criminally underrated, we’d say. See how simple and easy that was? We hope we have solved the question of what holding hands means to a guy for you. So the next time he starts grazing his hand over yours or slips his fingers between your hand, you will know exactly what is going on in his mind and heart.
