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 figuratively
The 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
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.
In a 50/50 election cycle, Republicans still have the upper hand. Craig Gilbert, jsonline.com, 18 July 2025 For now, Compton believes Newton has the upper hand. Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025 Trials often come down to liability and credibility, and celebrities have the upper hand, because jurors love them. Lauryn Overhultz , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2025 Some buyers have the upper hand in Florida, with rising inventory and developers offering sales incentives. Sarah Moreno july 14, Miami Herald, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for the upper hand

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The upper hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20upper%20hand. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!