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

For everyone, the moment the tragedy struck will become a dark memory handed down for generations. — Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2026

The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously disagreed in a decision handed down days before the state’s ballot was scheduled to be finalized – and after the August primary had been held using the new map. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

Woods spoke in front of the judge before her sentence was handed down. — Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

The gallery watched with rapt attention as Reddington gestured wildly, slammed his hand down and threw a stack of papers onto the bench. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 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)