hand down

verb

handed down; handing down; hands down

transitive verb

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 9th Circuit’s ruling came the same day a panel on the 7th Circuit also handed down a 2-1 ruling that found the INA does not support the administration’s stance. — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 31 July 2026

The findings were handed down at the NSW Coroners Court on Friday, July 31. — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026

Along with the life sentence that was handed down in May, he was also sentenced to an additional 42 to 84 months for a conviction of reckless burning. — Patrick Damp, CBS News, 31 July 2026

The coffee has come from Café Bustelo since Mary’s opened, a relationship now handed down through three generations on both sides. — Paula De La Cruz, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hand down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

hand down

verb

1

: 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 verb

1

: 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)