hand over 1 of 2

Definition of hand overnext
1
as in to relinquish
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress the police officer ordered the suspect to hand over his weapons

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2
as in to provide
to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption in response to a desperate plea, we handed over all our extra blankets and pillows to the homeless shelter

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3
4
as in to pass
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another hand over that screwdriver, will you please?

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handover

2 of 2

noun

as in surrender
the usually forced yielding of one's person or possessions to the control of another though the handover of my wallet was painful, it was better than getting shot by some trigger-happy punk

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hand over
Verb
Tyler, the Creator is once again making fans do a little homework before handing over the goods. Spin Staff, SPIN, 18 Aug. 2026 The donor who hands over the ball gets the photo, and the donor who thought to pack the pump gets nothing—no plaque or ribbon or moment of celebration. Sarah Evans, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
Many clergy bitterly opposed the handover of the villages and criticized Pashinyan, who came to power in the South Caucasus nation amid a wave of hopeful, pro-democracy protests that swept Armenia in 2018. Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2026 The handover of the INS Drakon is expected to significantly bolster Israel's underwater strike and reconnaissance capabilities, The Algemeiner reported. Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hand over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand over
Verb
  • There have been small changes to the ownership structures of Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in the last decade but without control ever being relinquished.
    Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Panettiere's dual battle with postpartum depression and addiction influenced her decision to agree to relinquish custody of Kaya to her ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko.
    KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The plan will intensify the battle between Amazon and Walmart to provide consumers with the fastest delivery times.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The Australians do provide a men’s and women’s singles berth for a player from the Asia-Pacific region, to foster development in less traditional tennis countries.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The bold reforms, which Tinubu’s government argues saved the economy and handed the government more money, were cheered by investors but resulted in soaring inflation.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • He was handed a wild card to play doubles at Wimbledon this year but lost in the first round.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Public health has always depended on some surrender of individual privacy for collective benefit.
    Jennifer D. Oliva, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The goals have included complete Iranian surrender, regime change, Iran never getting a nuclear weapon and ending Tehran’s support for its Middle East proxy groups like Hezbollah.
    Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Researchers are already documenting these effects, which threaten to render the hard work of wrestling with ideas a lost art.
    Billy J. Stratton, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In a Texas hospital this week, doctors performed a complex, high-risk, open-heart surgery on a 6-day-old boy born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare congenital condition that rendered part of his heart underdeveloped.
    Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Wrangle the camera crew, line up the weirdly uninspiring but nonetheless eye-wateringly expensive homes, and for the love of God, somebody give the British TV presenting duo Phil Spencer and Kirstie Allsopp a ring.
    Lauren O’Neill, Vogue, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Taylor splashed a wide-open triple from the top of the arc with 30 seconds to go to give tie the game, and then broke the visitors hearts to improve the Sky’s record to 14-22.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Students who took the stand described a heated exchange over Anthony’s refusal on a rainy spring day to leave a tent that belonged to Metcalf’s team.
    ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Keep the promise that matters, then leave room for improvisation.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Pepa Ljubojacki’s intimate documentary If Pigeons Turned to Gold is the Czech Republic’s submission for the best international feature film category at the Oscars 2027.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Related Stories That’s likely because it could also be selected as France’s submission, something that should become clearer towards the end of September when the country makes its decision on which film to send to the Oscars.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hand over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand%20over. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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