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
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?
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of handing over
After handing over the reins, Dimon will likely stay as executive chairman for a couple of years, the source said.
—
Anirban Sen,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
The recurring worry was that the technology can be confidently wrong, handing over a clean, plausible answer that happens to be mistaken.
—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Ferguson and his team had to build pitches on top of the existing ones, with some venues only handing over the premises days before, due to commercial commitments.
—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Discussions have centered on AI firms voluntarily handing over shares to the government, with returns funneled to public purposes, such as dividends to all American households, according to NOTUS.
—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
5 June 2026
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
Anirban Sen,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
The recurring worry was that the technology can be confidently wrong, handing over a clean, plausible answer that happens to be mistaken.
—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Ferguson and his team had to build pitches on top of the existing ones, with some venues only handing over the premises days before, due to commercial commitments.
—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Discussions have centered on AI firms voluntarily handing over shares to the government, with returns funneled to public purposes, such as dividends to all American households, according to NOTUS.
—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
5 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handing over
Verb
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But for Iran, reopening the strait does not mean relinquishing control of it.
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Furthermore, leaders like George Washington achieved greatness not by hoarding power, but by relinquishing it.
Verb
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One section bans providing services without a permit and includes yoga as an example.
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Instead of limiting where an electric bike can go, its folding design creates more opportunities to ride, making spontaneous adventures easier than ever while still providing the comfort needed for longer distances.
Verb
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Johnston, Cobbins leaving Johnston’s departure comes just three years after becoming the long-term replacement for former County Administrator Doug Bach, who left the government under an $800,000 separation agreement.
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Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot.
Verb
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Michael Lind, the writer and New America co-founder, argues in Commonplace, the magazine of Oren Cass’s American Compass, that a decent wage and a safety net should be enough, and that handing workers a stake in capital insults the dignity of their labor.
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Indeed, Gibson has found that there is nothing more rewarding than handing a patient a pair of dentures that will bring back their confidence and sense of self.
Verb
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This lack of competition has stunted the organizational capacity of both the Democratic and Republican Parties, rendering them hollow and unable to cultivate, train, or support a pipeline of young candidates.
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Officers found a victim suffering from a gunshot wound and immediately began rendering aid.
Verb
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The Athletics beat the Dodgers 7-1 on Wednesday night, giving the West Sacramento team its only win of the series with the Dodgers, winners of the past two World Series, failing to secure a three-game sweep.
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Another prohibits giving lectures in public parks without city permission.
Verb
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When in a group, space out to prevent the current from transferring between individuals.
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Conwell, 22, began his college career at South Florida before transferring to Indiana State for his sophomore season and Xavier for his junior season, and then closing his college career at Louisville.
Verb
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However, the bill was so contentious that in order to squeak it through, legislators stuffed it full of carve-outs and exemptions, allowing cities to delay implementation by passing their own plans to add density.
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Rather than moving directly to their new institution, many spend days or weeks passing through federal transfer centers and local detention facilities before reaching their final destination.
Cite this Entry
“Handing over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handing%20over. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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