hand over 1 of 2

Definition of hand overnext
1
as in to relinquish
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress the police officer ordered the suspect to hand over his weapons

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2
as in to provide
to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption in response to a desperate plea, we handed over all our extra blankets and pillows to the homeless shelter

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3
4
as in to pass
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another hand over that screwdriver, will you please?

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handover

2 of 2

noun

as in surrender
the usually forced yielding of one's person or possessions to the control of another though the handover of my wallet was painful, it was better than getting shot by some trigger-happy punk

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hand over
Verb
Raising children has always been expensive, but things have gotten out of hand over the last few years, with the price of groceries, gas, and just about everything else exploding due to inflation. Parents, 18 June 2026 The federal student loan portfolio is being handed over to the Treasury Department in phases. Alia Wong, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026
Noun
Her retirement has in the works for some time now, and Pedersen said last year’s hire of former ITV Studios exec Micah Hewson kicked of a handover process. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 27 May 2026 Set in the years preceding the handover, the film details the early power struggles and systemic corruption within the police force that set the stage for the original franchise. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for hand over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand over
Verb
  • Originally foreseen as the second Air Jordan of Michael’s post-player era, the Air Jordan 16 was designed by Wilson Smith III after Tinker Hatfield relinquished the reins.
    Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 18 June 2026
  • In 2023, ten years after relinquishing the kneeling figures, the Met gave a further 14 items from its collection back to Cambodia.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • For the couple, Fan Fest provided the perfect competitive backdrop.
    Abby Dodge, CBS News, 20 June 2026
  • Beijing broadly denies providing weapons to countries in conflict.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • Making that fantasy feel believable required far more than putting Lestat in leather and handing him a microphone.
    Precious Fondren, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
  • When fans walked into Globe Life Mall, they were handed a free sleeveless replica jersey for former Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler, who happens to be Jewish.
    Mac Engel June 18, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • Crisis negotiators were able to contact O'Brien via phone, eventually leading to his surrender.
    WCCO Staff, CBS News, 17 June 2026
  • Trump, recognizing that America has suffered a historic defeat, has abandoned his demands for unconditional surrender, and is trying to buy his way out with a memorandum of understanding that reportedly promises Tehran billions of dollars to restore the status quo ante.
    Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Issues like slow image rendering on mobile devices or videos failing to auto-crop correctly—such as losing the subject when switching between portrait and landscape views—are often perceived as minor.
    Tal Lev-Ami, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • Faux snakeskin takes the place of the woven Kevlar panel that usually defines the model, while the long mudguard beneath is rendered in black nubuck.
    Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Seoul — North Korea on Tuesday commissioned its largest-ever warship, a 5,000-ton destroyer that military analysts say could give Pyongyang’s adversaries something more to think about in a time of crisis.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
  • Dewey Burdock also joined the Fast-41 permitting program last year, giving it access to an accelerated federal review process reserved for priority infrastructure and critical mineral projects.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Yet robust economic growth has proved elusive, even as government debt has climbed, leaving successive administrations with little firepower to fix a growing list of related challenges, from crumbling infrastructure to a chronic housing shortage.
    Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
  • Adis does the right thing and asks to leave the boat.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Three drugs in active clinical development could reshape how doctors approach androgenetic alopecia in both men and women, and the first regulatory submissions are already underway.
    Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2026
  • Clascoterone is completing its safety dataset with regulatory submissions already in motion.
    Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 22 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hand over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand%20over. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

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