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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in handing
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another
hand over that screwdriver, will you please?
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Recent Examples of handing over
Election officials, including some Republicans, have said handing over the information would violate state and federal privacy laws.
—
CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Election officials, including some Republicans, have said handing over the information would violate state and federal privacy laws.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Next, Timberlake can be seen handing over his license and registration before stepping out of the car to undergo a series of sobriety tests.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026
Since Obama, the first president to use an official account on the social media site then called Twitter, left office in January 2017, handing over online accounts has been part of the transition process between administrations.
—Stephen Fowler, NPR, 7 Feb. 2026
Because of this, handing over $35 million (€30 million) to Manchester United for Rashford might be the safest bet after all.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Phase One encountered setbacks due to Hamas not handing over the final deceased hostage and the Israeli airstrikes that occurred after the cease-fire came into effect in October.
—Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
At the same time, Ncuti Gatwa, the 15th Doctor, exited the show under something of a cloud, seemingly handing over the keys to a familiar face in Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
Instead of simply handing over the keys, the former owners have taken the new young ones under their wing, offering advice and hands-on help.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Election officials, including some Republicans, have said handing over the information would violate state and federal privacy laws.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Next, Timberlake can be seen handing over his license and registration before stepping out of the car to undergo a series of sobriety tests.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026
Since Obama, the first president to use an official account on the social media site then called Twitter, left office in January 2017, handing over online accounts has been part of the transition process between administrations.
—Stephen Fowler, NPR, 7 Feb. 2026
Because of this, handing over $35 million (€30 million) to Manchester United for Rashford might be the safest bet after all.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Phase One encountered setbacks due to Hamas not handing over the final deceased hostage and the Israeli airstrikes that occurred after the cease-fire came into effect in October.
—Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
At the same time, Ncuti Gatwa, the 15th Doctor, exited the show under something of a cloud, seemingly handing over the keys to a familiar face in Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
Instead of simply handing over the keys, the former owners have taken the new young ones under their wing, offering advice and hands-on help.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handing over
Verb
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The United States has offered Iran a 15-point proposal for a ceasefire that includes it relinquishing control of the strait, but at the same time has ordered thousands more troops to the region — possibly in preparation for a military attempt to wrest the waterway from Iran.—
David Rising,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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With concerns growing about a global energy crisis, an Iranian official said Tehran had no intention of relinquishing its tight grip on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Supplemental Security Income is a program administered by the Social Security Administration providing benefits for those with limited or no income or resources, those aged 65 or older, and those who are blind or have a qualifying disability.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Pakistani officials have said their public effort follows weeks of quiet diplomacy, while providing few details.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Cotter received a two-minute penalty for goaltender interference, and Shesterkin and Markström were given two-minute penalties for leaving the crease and five minutes for fighting.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
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Lee Ginsberg is leaving film and television public relations firm Ginsberg / Libby to become an independent awards consultant.—
Marc Malkin,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Eventually, Roosevelt broke with the Republican Party altogether, running for president on the Bull Moose ticket in 1912, siphoning off votes from his old party and handing the election to Woodrow Wilson.—
Gaby Del Valle,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
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This is about handing power to a few massive corporations at the expense of local voices—the very voices that hold power accountable.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This demo showed off a graphics-rendering task (an aquarium full of fish, whose frame rates and swimming action were directly affected by the availability of system resources).—
John Burek,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The game was about rendering a person with a limited palette of supplies.—
Eric Boodman,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Texas had subbed 7-foot center Matas Vokietaitis out of the game with 11 seconds left after Boilermakers big man Oscar Cluff had fouled out, giving Purdue a better opportunity in the paint.—
Janie McCauley,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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Senate Majority Leader Thune changed his vote from yes to no, giving himself the option of bringing up the motion again.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Initially, that rule applied only to players transferring for the first time.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2026
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His mother, Evelyn Diaz, said her son was present at a meeting with school administrators where staff openly discussed transferring him out.—
Andrew Ramos,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the mid-nineties, as South Korea’s explosive economic growth began to stagnate, President Kim Young-sam’s Administration made a big bet on the culture industries, passing legislation to help enliven the country’s artistic production.—
Mitch Therieau,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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Ultimately, a lack of Democratic support for weakening the filibuster prevented them from passing that legislation, but Republicans were also vehemently opposed and leaned on arguments about protecting states’ rights.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handing over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handing%20over. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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