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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
The Love County Sheriff's Office was the lead agency on the case before it was handed over to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
—Jessie Christopher Smith, Oklahoman, 7 Apr. 2026
Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Mar. 2026
That second gear arrives only after 120 KPH, and while the handover is noticeable (though not harsh), your butt dyno will also note that the torque curve is in fact a straight line that doesn’t relent.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hand over
Verb
Benjamin de Rothschild handed over control of the bank to his wife in early 2015.
—Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
The Love County Sheriff's Office was the lead agency on the case before it was handed over to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
—Jessie Christopher Smith, Oklahoman, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
Apple Daily and Next Magazine continued to criticize the Chinese government after the 1997 British handover.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Mar. 2026
That second gear arrives only after 120 KPH, and while the handover is noticeable (though not harsh), your butt dyno will also note that the torque curve is in fact a straight line that doesn’t relent.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hand over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand over
Verb
-
Min Aung Hlaing, who had attained the rank of senior general, last week relinquished his post of commander-in-chief because the constitution prohibits the president from simultaneously holding the top military position.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Mostly because this lesson required me to relinquish my take-home treats.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Mount Carmel pitcher Jake Matise received a piece of information Friday morning that provided him with some extra focus and motivation to take into his start later in the afternoon.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Inter Miami provides the best challenge and litmus test yet.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the final days of the war, the Nazis sought to destroy the party’s vast collection of membership cards but they were saved at the last minute and later handed to the Americans.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
17 Apr. 2026
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Brendan Fitzgerald has left his role as CEO of Secuoya Studios, which is at the same time handing complete independence to its Latin American arm.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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If the former is about the inevitability of falling in love, a complete surrender beyond the speaker’s control, the latter confronts the pain of romantic love’s aftermath.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
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In comments carried by semi-official ISNA news agency, Pezeshkian said any attempt to impose will or force the country into surrender is doomed to fail, and the Iranian nation will never accept such an approach.—
Alexandra Bacallao,
NBC news,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the 1960s, some planetary scientists proposed that craters at the south pole of the moon, where the angle of the sun is so shallow that parts of the interior of the craters' are rendered in permanent shadow, could be cold enough to host water-ice.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
14 Apr. 2026
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Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat, turning frequently, until crisp and rendered, about 8 minutes.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Speier, who entered politics by first working as a congressional aide and experienced harassment from a supervisor, said that part of the problem in Congress is that members are given wide latitude to run their offices.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
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The cozy fleece bottoms have a flattering straight-leg fit and feature subtle side piping, giving them a fashionable, sporty effect.—
Melony Forcier,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While many leave college intending to return, few ultimately do.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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United States Central Command later said the measures would apply only to ships entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal zones.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The flood of reports sent to the DOJ after her solicitation overwhelmed the few remaining attorneys, who were forced to rush to meet a legal deadline requiring the division to examine all such submissions within 10 days of their filing.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
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The university also acknowledged two submissions that won honorable mentions.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hand over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand%20over. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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