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
The men on the mound, Angell liked to point out, tended to have the upper hand.
—
Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
In this matchup of Warriors, however, King Philip (3-0) has had the upper hand, winning the previous games in 2023 and 2024.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
The organic initially has the upper hand.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent data shows us that Florida has tipped into a buyer’s market in recent months—which means that buyers have the upper hand over sellers.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the upper hand
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Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
In this matchup of Warriors, however, King Philip (3-0) has had the upper hand, winning the previous games in 2023 and 2024.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
The organic initially has the upper hand.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent data shows us that Florida has tipped into a buyer’s market in recent months—which means that buyers have the upper hand over sellers.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 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 1 Oct. 2025.
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