the upper hand
noun
: the position of having power or being in control in a particular situation
He always has to have the upper hand.
—sometimes used figurativelyThe infection was gaining the upper hand and the patient's condition was deteriorating.
Examples of the upper hand in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hudson appears to have the upper hand now against the detractors as North Carolina’s season has not spiraled out of control.
—
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Trinity has held the upper hand in the storied rivalry.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Nov. 2025
For now, the critics have the upper hand at the ballot box.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
The match ended in a double count-out, but The Vision maintained the upper hand in the ensuing brawl.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the upper hand
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Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Trinity has held the upper hand in the storied rivalry.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Nov. 2025
For now, the critics have the upper hand at the ballot box.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
The match ended in a double count-out, but The Vision maintained the upper hand in the ensuing brawl.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the upper hand
Cite this Entry
“The upper hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20upper%20hand. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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