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
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
Crews continue to gain the upper hand on the Putah Fire burning west of Winters, but firefighters could be on the ground into early next week, Cal Fire officials said Friday.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
Whereas in the ebullient days of the 1850s, the ideas that had the upper hand were optimistic, and free trade and global integration.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
Advertisement To be sure, Republicans still hold the upper hand in state legislatures.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for the upper hand
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Courtney Connley-Hampton, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Crews continue to gain the upper hand on the Putah Fire burning west of Winters, but firefighters could be on the ground into early next week, Cal Fire officials said Friday.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
Whereas in the ebullient days of the 1850s, the ideas that had the upper hand were optimistic, and free trade and global integration.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
Advertisement To be sure, Republicans still hold the upper hand in state legislatures.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 8 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 18 Jun. 2026.
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