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
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.
Video then showed Hernandez running back to his vehicle before holding both of his hands up. Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2025 The facility serves as a donation and distribution hub, providing a hand up to foster children, hungry children, single mothers, trafficking survivors, and struggling families. Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025 The 30-minute video showed officers found Mitchell in the home’s basement, standing meekly in a bathroom, hands up and eyes lowered. Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 16 July 2025 The indictment handed up murder, stalking and firearms charges against Boelter. Steve Karnowski, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for hand up

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hand up was in 1970

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Cite this Entry

“Hand up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hand%20up. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.

Legal Definition

hand up

transitive verb
: to deliver (an indictment) to a judge or higher judicial authority
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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