1
as in relinquishing
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in providing
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in leaving
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in handing
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another
hand over that screwdriver, will you please?
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 handing over
Norrased sought to reassure him, telling him that the water was being drained, and handing over blankets and food.
—
Jintamas Saksornchai, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
The Shenzhou 21 crew will return to Earth on May 29, after handing over control of Tiangong to the incoming Shenzhou 23 astronauts.
—Andrew Jones, Space.com, 24 May 2026
As for Tom, he’s blindsided by Carl and his former partner arranging the deal with the Department of Defense and even more deeply bruised by handing over precious VA personal data to men who spend their days dreaming up cynical ways to exploit it for profit.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 24 May 2026
Pirates reliever Dennis Santana brokered a trade with a young fan for the ball, handing over a bat signed by Valdez and a Pirates cap in exchange for Valdez's keepsake.
—CBS News, 24 May 2026
Marketing is no longer handing over a qualified lead.
—Dee Blohm, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
But Coben’s leadership was always temporary, handing over the reins to Gaudette, a corporate president who’s been with NRG and predecessor companies for 25 years.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 17 May 2026
That one decision likely saved him from handing over personal information.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
Similarly, the possibility of handing over a large sum of money to an insurer and then dying soon afterward with little to show for it is often a large behavioral hurdle for people, said Zach Teutsch, founder of Values Added Financial in Washington.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Jintamas Saksornchai, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
The Shenzhou 21 crew will return to Earth on May 29, after handing over control of Tiangong to the incoming Shenzhou 23 astronauts.
—Andrew Jones, Space.com, 24 May 2026
As for Tom, he’s blindsided by Carl and his former partner arranging the deal with the Department of Defense and even more deeply bruised by handing over precious VA personal data to men who spend their days dreaming up cynical ways to exploit it for profit.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 24 May 2026
Pirates reliever Dennis Santana brokered a trade with a young fan for the ball, handing over a bat signed by Valdez and a Pirates cap in exchange for Valdez's keepsake.
—CBS News, 24 May 2026
Marketing is no longer handing over a qualified lead.
—Dee Blohm, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
But Coben’s leadership was always temporary, handing over the reins to Gaudette, a corporate president who’s been with NRG and predecessor companies for 25 years.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 17 May 2026
That one decision likely saved him from handing over personal information.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
Similarly, the possibility of handing over a large sum of money to an insurer and then dying soon afterward with little to show for it is often a large behavioral hurdle for people, said Zach Teutsch, founder of Values Added Financial in Washington.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handing over
Verb
-
Consumers are intrigued by convenience, but at the same time clearly uneasy about relinquishing control.—
Jacques Ledbetter,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
Iranian media have emphasized that reopening the waterway to shipping does not mean Tehran is relinquishing its wartime claims over the strategic chokepoint.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
The United States need not choose between accepting stalemate, providing aid to Ukraine indefinitely, or escalating directly against Russian forces.—
David A. Deptula,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
Most comes from the company's Starlink data/communications services, with a constellation of over 7,000 active satellites and over 10 million subscribers in markets that were previously dominated by a handful of satcom companies providing limited coverage for astronomical rates.—
David Szondy
May 31,
New Atlas,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
My father was running the skid steer outside, clearing the snow, leaving dirty white mounds to either side of the driveway that led from the house out to the range road.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Consequently, rising inflation has steadily eroded real purchasing power, leaving 59 percent of Americans without sufficient savings to absorb a minor financial shock, such as a $1,000 emergency.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Nye stopped short of handing a full victory to Boise.—
Darin Oswald,
Idaho Statesman,
3 June 2026
-
First, tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act generated larger-than-usual refunds earlier this year, effectively handing consumers a cash cushion just as income was weakening.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The r on my laptop keyboard, worn to breaking, will soon fall off, rendering that laptop lifeless.—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
-
Of course, that club won the World Series, rendering Crane’s silence a footnote in a superb season.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Special commando units were also deployed to the location and carried out intelligence-gathering missions and drone operations, the other two sources said, giving Israel a valuable perch from which to see into northern Iran during the war.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
-
The show is still using some of those songs, giving the score’s relationship to the script a half-in, half-out near-jukebox feeling.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
Photonics, the use of light to transmit data, is an emerging technology considered to be a more efficient alternative to the current process of transferring data using electricity.—
Kai Nicol-Schwarz,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
-
For Jackson, that meant starting at a mid-major, learning about the game and proving himself before transferring to an SEC power.—
Teddy Cahill,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Congress could also intervene, Budington said, by passing legislation that allows a private right of action after data breaches, allowing victims to pursue cases directly instead of relying on state laws or waiting for state attorneys general to take up a case.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
4 June 2026
-
The long days of summer feel designed for leisurely train travel, journeys that unfold at an unhurried pace and encourage travelers to settle in and enjoy the passing scenery.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handing over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handing%20over. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
