hand over 1 of 2

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
Cardi, who went viral on social media for playfully mimicking Diggs' trademark touchdown celebration — left hand over her face, extended her right hand in front of her and waved it — dressed the part, too. Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025 The same 60 Minutes that Trump bellowed against and sued over edits to a sit-down with Kamala Harris last year — a lawsuit that held up David Ellison‘s $8 billion purchase of Paramount until a $16 million payout was handed over to a gloating POTUS. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2025
Noun
The handover took place on Monday as part of ongoing efforts tied to the ceasefire agreement with Israel. Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025 Their release is to be followed later by the handover of bodies of the remaining 28 deceased hostages. Steven Scheer, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hand over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand over
Verb
  • Yet, despite this military setback, the militia in Lebanon shows no intention of relinquishing its weapons.
    Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Georgia Tech led 17-14 before the Wolfpack’s Cody Hardy scored his second touchdown of the first half, and NC State (5-4, 2-3) never relinquished the lead from there.
    Manny Navarro, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Contractors working on the project recently completed pouring the foundation for what will provide smaller housing units meant to make quarantining detainees with communicable illnesses safer and easier.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Casting directors Cindy Tolan, Lucy Bevan and Patricia Vasconcelos provided a masterclass and held a series of casting sessions with Portuguese actors in the build-up to Passaporte Lisboa, a casting festival that runs in November.
    Martin Dale, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Finally, there’s the fact that the Blazers are handing him the gig, with Clingan playing 30 minutes in the opener against Minnesota.
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • With 43 seconds on the clock and a timeout in his back pocket, Albin chose the conservative route, handing the ball off twice and forgoing a Hail Mary to send the game to the half knotted up.
    Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Too many other pets in the household or allergies rounded out the top five reasons for owner surrender.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
  • After Alaqua heard that over a dozen dogs were under the man's care, the rescue tried to organize an owner surrender of some of the pets, but the efforts never came to fruition.
    Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • For centuries, the doctrine of coverture rendered married women the property of their husbands with no legal rights of their own.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
  • This gray panel matches the collar and Wings logo, and the rest of the upper is rendered in white and off-white.
    Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Most analysts who spoke with said that the Senate will be a tougher feat for Democrats than the House, although there is still a lot up in the air, given ongoing and potentially upcoming redistricting plans and rules.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Soeren Stache | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Microsoft is giving employees a way to raise concerns about the uses of its technology after controversy emerged over the company's work in the Middle East.
    Jordan Novet, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Even leaving these facts aside, neither the doctrinaire socialism nor militant Islam have ever improved any place on earth, and New York City will not be the first.
    Newsweek Contributors, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • To keep her safe Hekate’s mother leaves her in the underworld with the goddess Styx and Hades.
    Amber McBride, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • For him, embracing this year’s Palme d’Or winner as France’s Oscar submission — giving Panahi a platform that had long been out of reach — felt like a natural next step for an ecosystem that has consistently embraced global auteurs.
    Ben Croll, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Three states have announced their submissions of their Rural Health Transformation (RHT) plans to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) this week.
    Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hand over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand%20over. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

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