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
Daemon is one of the most clever, cunning and conniving characters in House of the Dragon, who always seems to have the upper hand.
—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
At the end of Season 2, Rhaenyra appeared to have the upper hand for once.
—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Experts across Washington are already war-gaming potential scenarios in which one country gets the upper hand in AI.
—
Caitlin Babcock,
Christian Science Monitor,
18 June 2026
Employers now have the upper hand, but the national focus on the declining birthrate could protect these benefits.
—
Courtney Connley-Hampton,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for the upper hand
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Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
At the end of Season 2, Rhaenyra appeared to have the upper hand for once.
—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Experts across Washington are already war-gaming potential scenarios in which one country gets the upper hand in AI.
—
Caitlin Babcock,
Christian Science Monitor,
18 June 2026
Employers now have the upper hand, but the national focus on the declining birthrate could protect these benefits.
—
Courtney Connley-Hampton,
Forbes.com,
13 June 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 27 Jun. 2026.
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