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

Guyger, 38, served seven years of the 10-year sentence handed down in October 2019 for the murder of Botham Jean, 26. — Claire Cardona, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026

Using the history of gay male desire in different time periods — dangerous, clandestine, outlawed and at long last fitfully accepted — the film examines legacy and what gets handed down across time. — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Earlier this year, a grand jury handed down a 30-count indictment against then-Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, for malfeasance, obstruction of justice and falsifying public records. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

The first part, the Way, was an ad hoc system of safety rules and climbing ethics, handed down from climber to climber. — Daniel Duane, New York Times, 14 Oct. 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)