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
According to court documents, Bressington first tried asking Reddit to hand over information about the users in the thread. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Jan. 2026 Venezuela passed the 1943 Hydrocarbons Law, which forced foreign oil companies to hand over half of their oil profits, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
However, the handover was delayed by one day after Thailand made allegations of ceasefire violations by Cambodia, which Cambodia denied. CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025 Photographer Saher Alghorra had just finished covering Hamas’ handover of the Israeli hostages under the ceasefire agreement when he was headed to Khan Younis to document the release of Palestinian prisoners. Time Photo Department, Time, 23 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hand over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand over
Verb
  • As Buffett relinquishes the helm, investors are increasingly focused on what disappears with him.
    Yun Li, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
  • More typically, the figures in Marshall’s art are haunted by a past that refuses to relinquish its tenacious hold.
    James Meyer, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The study also provides a previously unidentified constraint for models of tidal heat production, shell thickness, and the long-term evolution of Enceladus’ ocean.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The indictment contends that Jones provided information regarding key players on the Los Angeles Lakers’ status in advance of games on two dates to enable third-parties to make potentially favorable bets.
    Samidh Guha, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The Hollywood Foreign Press Association also spoke in favor of Glen Powell, when the voting body of the Golden Globes handed him a nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
  • A little more than an hour after the game ended, an equipment staff member handed Goedert’s jersey, complete with grass stains on the eagle shoulder patch, to The Realest.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • According to sources, Washington may demand that Rodríguez facilitate the arrest or surrender of Padrino and Cabello to accompany Maduro, who appeared before a New York judge Monday to hear drug trafficking charges.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Anniversary of Noriega’s surrender Maduro’s arrest came 36 years to the date of the surrender of Panama’s strongman Manuel Noriega, a notable milestone in American involvement in the Western Hemisphere.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 3 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • This transformation renders the target — the frozen limit — a finite object that a finite computer can handle.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Its three glittering diamonds had a powerful effect on Sophie Rhys-Jones—rendering her speechless.
    Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Historically, the water’s purity was singular, giving life to a watershed that flourished because of a unique paucity of nutrients, a situation that hindered the pursuit of any single species that would dominate the rest.
    Amy Green, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Utopia Bedding Quilted Comforter This Utopia Bedding comforter keeps my bed looking super fluffy and cloud-like and gives my bedroom an expensive look.
    Genevieve Cepeda, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The departure of Stockton and Warren leaves head coach Spencer Danielson with the task of replacing two secondary coaches.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Members of the Minneapolis City Council, in a joint statement, demanded that ICE leave the city following the shooting.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This burger beat out 600,000 fan submissions to get a spot on national menus, according to a press release.
    Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The number of nominees will be proportional to the number of submissions in each genre with at least one nomination for each genre.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 9 Jan. 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 13 Jan. 2026.

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