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

After the guilty verdict was handed down, Chow blew supporters in the public gallery a kiss, while Lee formed a heart with his arms. — Chris Lau, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

And in 1999, the year Cody was born, the Supreme Court handed down the Olmstead decision. — Jonaki Mehta, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026

Had his hands ready, swiped his hands down, dug out, looked for the ball. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Almost two years after the killing of Murray, Amanda Hernandez was handed down a sentence for her home invasion plot that prosecutors argue led to Murray's death. — Alysia Burgio, CBS News, 12 Aug. 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)