handshake

noun

hand·​shake ˈhan(d)-ˌshāk How to pronounce handshake (audio)
: a clasping usually of right hands by two people (as in greeting or farewell)

Examples of handshake in a Sentence

She greeted him with a handshake. He has a firm handshake.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Baker was in his late-fifties, a no-nonsense investigator with more than 35 years of experience, tall and thin with a bald head under a cowboy hat, prominent smile lines, and a steel-grip handshake. Mitch Moxley, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025 The segment ended with a handshake between the two lifelong friends, leaving Copeland's future in AEW uncertain. Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025 Personal interactions have been characterized by uncomfortably long handshakes and macho knee-slapping. Alexander Smith, NBC news, 24 Sep. 2025 Two years ago, the Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott went under for almost half a day, during which time multiple artists worked together on producing a full leg sleeve depicting, among other things, a Pegasus, a moose, the Dallas skyline, and a firm handshake. John Semley, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for handshake

Word History

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of handshake was in 1802

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Handshake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handshake. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

handshake

noun
hand·​shake -ˌshāk How to pronounce handshake (audio)
: a clasping of hands by two people especially in greeting or farewell

More from Merriam-Webster on handshake

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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