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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand over
Verb
  • While Israel wants to eradicate Hamas following the Oct. 7 attacks, the group has shown little willingness to relinquish its political and military power in Gaza.
    Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 5 July 2025
  • The judge in Jackson's case has ordered Burgin to relinquish any firearms in his possession, including firearm parts and ammunition, within 24 hours of receiving the restraining order.
    Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Verb
  • Made with a titanium barrel, these curling irons heat the hair from within, ensuring minimal damage while providing a long-lasting hold.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 1 July 2025
  • Others will be looking to you for guidance this month, and your ability to provide stability will set the tone for what’s to come.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • After her first two England camps in charge in September 2021, Wiegman — in the absence of former England captain Steph Houghton — handed Williamson the armband.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 5 July 2025
  • One day in his office, he was handed five new lawsuits.
    Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 4 July 2025
Noun
  • Erotic surrender alone will not subvert or even really trouble the monarchy, which requires its own elaborately binding outfits and public displays of intimacy.
    Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 26 June 2025
  • Failure to do so is not judicial humility, but, at best, judicial surrender in the face of a terrible crime.
    Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • The projection engine makes use of a large 0.47-inch DMD chip, and employs pixel-shifting to render 4K UHD resolution.
    Paul Ridden June 25, New Atlas, 25 June 2025
  • Last season also offered up so many reminders that the Mets are liable to render all this hand-wringing and historical perspective moot by late October or early November.
    Jerry Beach, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Westerdam is comfortably sized, with 958 cabins, giving guests plenty to do without feeling overwhelmed.
    Susan B. Barnes, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2025
  • Leo season gives us a chance to self-prioritize, stand out, and find our inner shine again.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Commission leader Thomas Bullitt later left Kentucky and did not return.
    Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 5 July 2025
  • Only three of the top seven players in the world are left in the draw.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • Poirier failed to unify the title, losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov by submission at UFC 242 in September 2019.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • The 46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards received more than 2200 submissions from the calendar year of 2024, and nominations were judged by a pool of more than 980 people from across the television and streaming/digital media news and documentary community.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 June 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Hand over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand%20over. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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