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

Top earner for the week was, hands down, Hamilton, riding high with the return of original cast member Christopher Jackson in the role of George Washington (through January 3). — Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026

Her campaign has been relatively free of major bumps since an appeals court in July cleared her path for a fourth run at the presidency, with a ruling that shortened a ban on seeking public office handed down to Le Pen for embezzling public funds. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026

The rear three-quarter view of the Charger is the best angle hands down. — Joel Feder, The Drive, 24 Sep. 2026

The Supreme Court ruling scrutinizes the decisions of Oakland County Circuit Judge Kwame Rowe, who oversaw the teen shooter's guilty plea and handed down the sentence after hearing emotional testimony from the victims' parents. — Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 18 Sep. 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)