hand up

verb

handed up; handing up; hands up

transitive verb

of a jury

: to deliver (an indictment) to a judge or higher judicial authority

Examples of hand up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The reporters and military members were part of a convoy being escorted onto the base by uniformed public affairs staff in a government minivan when they were suddenly ordered out of their vehicles with their hands up, according to news reports. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

The Rolling Stones star, who just turned 83 in late July, shared a video on his Instagram of himself dancing with his hands up under a disco ball in what appears to be a club. — Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026

While someone off-camera told the riders to keep their hands up and not close their eyes, RAYE excitedly raised her own hands into the air before nudging Jordan to do the same. — Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026

The Queen had been in a classroom, where she and her 15 followers were repeatedly told to come out with their hands up. — Zander Sherman, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hand up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

Legal Definition

hand up

transitive verb

: to deliver (an indictment) to a judge or higher judicial authority