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
Without it, the disease will inevitably gain the upper hand.
—
Daniele Nyirandutiye, semafor.com, 1 June 2026
Trump has been against state AI regulation over fears that the contradictory interstate regulatory framework could hamstring AI innovation and allow China to get the upper hand.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 1 June 2026
This could be their last chance to have the upper hand on the league for a few reasons.
—The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 29 May 2026
However, whenever the fiscal year starts, the governor must have the upper hand with the budget and that applies to policy matters as well.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 May 2026
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Daniele Nyirandutiye, semafor.com, 1 June 2026
Trump has been against state AI regulation over fears that the contradictory interstate regulatory framework could hamstring AI innovation and allow China to get the upper hand.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 1 June 2026
This could be their last chance to have the upper hand on the league for a few reasons.
—The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 29 May 2026
However, whenever the fiscal year starts, the governor must have the upper hand with the budget and that applies to policy matters as well.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 May 2026
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 4 Jun. 2026.
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