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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in to hand
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another
handed over their valuables to the desk clerk, who put them in the hotel safe
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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
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Recent Examples of hand over
Jennifer Hansler, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
In addition to calling for the sheriff to step down, Heinz is also urging him to hand over leadership of the Guthrie investigation to the FBI.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
Apple Daily and Next Magazine continued to criticize the Chinese government after the 1997 British handover.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hand over
Verb
Iran is expected to hand over its response to the latest US peace proposal to Pakistani mediators Thursday.
—Jennifer Hansler, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
In addition to calling for the sheriff to step down, Heinz is also urging him to hand over leadership of the Guthrie investigation to the FBI.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Noun
Submarine moves closer to deployment after maintenance cycle In its latest phase of early service activity, the USS New Jersey has returned to US Navy control following a structured cycle of corrections, upgrades, and maintenance rather than a first-time handover, Army Recognition writes.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
Apple Daily and Next Magazine continued to criticize the Chinese government after the 1997 British handover.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hand over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand over
Verb
-
Turn back the tape just a few weeks ago, to when the Five Stripes relinquished a 1-0 advantage in the final stretch to lose at home 2-1.—
Amna Subhan,
AJC.com,
10 May 2026
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More than 75 other nurses with Operation Nightingale school diplomas relinquished their Florida credentials, the health department said in its April 22 email in response to the Sentinel’s questions.—
Annie Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The full closure is required to safely accommodate heavy equipment operations, provide adequate workspace for crews, and protect motorists.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
-
Some are backing away from exclusionary discipline like suspensions and expulsions and have embraced schoolwide approaches that reward positive behavior and provide social skills practice through games and role-playing.—
Stacker,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
Verb
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So when Jaden Smith wandered over to sign autographs, Huang handed the reel to him instead.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
8 May 2026
-
The whole point is to remove the decisions, not hand them back to her.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
Noun
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In 1945, Nazi Germany signed an unconditional surrender at Allied headquarters in Rheims, France, ending its role in World War II.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
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With Italy’s surrender to the Allies in 1943, all major tank battles involving their forces came to a halt.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Travertine marble dominates the space with its veined effect rendered in delicate shades for the walls and flooring, or enriched with the backlit FF logo for a bolder outcome.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
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Although the juror will make the final selections for what’s in the show and who gets awards, Jarvis will render his opinion if asked.—
Melinda Moore,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Trump demonizes immigrants and has launched a sweeping mass-deportation campaign that was cheered by the far right across Europe; Sánchez resists such nativism, and his government is in the midst of a program to give legal status to some half a million undocumented migrants living in Spain.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
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Two losses in last month’s three league matches gave the impression of momentum slipping, and even if performances improved towards the end of April, something different was needed to shift the energy towards the club.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Connecticut is a part of a deregulated regional electrical grid, and Nicola noted that electricity is bought and sold on the open market, leaving the risks of building new plants to private companies.—
Krisztian Elcsics,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
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Making Democrats disappear The DeSantis scheme would give Republicans 24 of Florida’s 28 seats in Congress, leaving the Democrats with just four.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
Noun
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The final submission—a six-line poem from Akil—was cryptic, nearly indecipherable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
-
The submission fee is $15 per item; credit cards, checks and cash will be accepted.—
Melinda Moore,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hand over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand%20over. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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