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

Officers noticed a handgun in Royster’s lap and promptly ordered him to put his hands up before officers surrounded the vehicle. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 13 July 2026

In police body camera footage, which Feder shared with WCCO, Feder gets out with his hands up and an officer pats him down. — Ashley Grams, CBS News, 12 July 2026

Catcher Dalton Rushing held his hand up to his forehead like a shark fin. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

While our kids played in the next room, Buddy put one hand up my skirt and the other down my blouse at the same time. — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 6 July 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