Raised Hand

A hand held upright with fingers together, palm facing forward. Often shown with a light or medium skin tone by default.

The ✋ Raised Hand emoji is typically used to represent stopping, requesting attention, or high-fiving. In formal or instructional contexts, it signals "I have something to say" or "Stop right there." It's also common in educational settings or meetings to mimic raising a hand to speak.

Among older generations, it often retains its literal or formal meaning—like asking a question or saying “I’m here.” In Gen Z and meme culture, however, it's more likely to be used ironically or playfully, sometimes even to signal backing away from drama or inserting oneself into a situation.