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hand down
verb
handed down; handing down; hands down
1
: to transmit in succession (as from father to son)
2
: to make official formulation of and express (the opinion of a court)
Examples of hand down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The proportion of Americans who say Trump should end his presidential campaign as a result of this verdict is 49%, which is similar to findings from an April 2023 ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted shortly after the Manhattan grand jury handed down the indictment against him in this case.
—Isabella Murray, ABC News, 2 June 2024
More than a year later, after charges dropped, a six-week trial ensued, and a unanimous guilty verdict was handed down, little has changed.
—Linda Marx, Peoplemag, 31 May 2024
When will Trump be sentenced? Shortly after the verdict was handed down, Merchan, the judge, set Trump's sentencing date for July 11, just days before the start of the Republican National Convention.
—Stefan Becket, CBS News, 31 May 2024
Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago Visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo is hands down one of the best free things to do in Chicago.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for hand down
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hand down.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near hand down
Cite this Entry
“Hand down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hand%20down. Accessed 16 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
hand down
verb1
: to pass down from older to younger (as from parent to child)
2
: to form and express a judicial decision
Legal Definition
hand down
transitive verb1
: to deliver (the decision or opinion of an appellate court) to the proper office of an inferior court
2
: to make an official formulation of and announce (the decision of a court)
More from Merriam-Webster on hand down
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hand down
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