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

An agreement is simply an explicit, mutual commitment: a promise co-created and owned by the team, not handed down from above or left vague. —Carrie-Ann Barrow, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025

The new order replaces a previous edict handed down by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston last week. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 28 July 2025

Yet, that has been the pattern in recent weeks, as in a series of significant cases the court has handed down rulings without opinions or explanation. —Erwin Chemerinsky, Twin Cities, 25 July 2025

As a result of the Trump cases, the Supreme Court has also handed down a ruling in favor of broad presidential immunity from prosecution for official acts. —W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 24 July 2025

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)