handspring

noun hand·spring \ ˈhan(d)-ˌspriŋ \

|Updated on: 11 Jun 2018

Examples: handspring in a Sentence

Definition of handspring

: an acrobatic feat in which the body turns forward or backward in a full circle from a standing position and lands first on the hands and then on the feet

See handspring defined for English-language learners

See handspring defined for kids

Examples of handspring in a Sentence

He did a handspring on the lawn.

Recent Examples of handspring from the Web

Video of the off-duty agent showed him unleashing a torrent of dance moves at a Denver bar early Saturday before launching into a back handspring.

— holly yan and artemis moshtaghian, CNN, "FBI agent loses his gun during dance-floor backflip, accidentally shoots bar patron," 3 June 2018
Nearby, gymnasts in sparkly leotards fly through the air, landing flips and handsprings.

— meadow rue merrill, BostonGlobe.com, "How giving food away saved a Maine restaurant," 4 Apr. 2018
In one Instagram video, Collins strings together seven back handsprings followed by a back tuck.

— mary kay cabot, cleveland.com, "Browns' Jamie Collins tells his story: The one behind the smile that fans don't know," 2 Aug. 2017
There are more mountains to climb, and back handsprings to land.

— story by rick press and jessica koscielniak video by jessica koscielniak, star-telegram, "Hope and a back handspring," 27 Apr. 2017
Elizabeth has been working with Brittany for two years on her back handspring.

— story by rick press and jessica koscielniak video by jessica koscielniak, star-telegram.com, "Hope and a back handspring," 27 Apr. 2017
A backflip — sometimes replaced with a back handspring — became his signature move after every competition.

— nathan fenno, latimes.com, "Olympic high jumper paralyzed by freak injury now hopes to walk down aisle at wedding," 3 June 2017
The 41-year-old vault specialist Oksana Chusovitina, for example, performed a front handspring onto the vaulting horse and two front somersaults off — the most difficult vault in the world.

— victor mather the new york times, New York Times, "Usain Bolt Is Still the Fastest," 14 Aug. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'handspring.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of handspring

1833

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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HANDSPRING Defined for English Language Learners

handspring

noun

Definition of handspring for English Language Learners

: a fast movement in which you jump forward or backward, land on your hands, swing your legs up and over your body, and then land on your feet

HANDSPRING Defined for Kids

handspring

noun hand·spring \ ˈhand-ˌspriŋ \

Definition of handspring for Students

: a movement in which a person turns the body forward or backward in a full circle from a standing position and lands first on the hands and then on the feet