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
Only 112 bodies had been handed over to relatives, while 1,333 were temporarily buried pending identification. — ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026 How much must be handed over before the work is considered serious? — Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Noun
Chinese officials and Hong Kong political leaders attended the service, only the third state funeral in the former British colony since the 1997 handover. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026 Meta didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about whether the handover was consensual, and whether the band was paid for the handle. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hand over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand over
Verb
  • One panel was falling, then smashing on the path, lead relinquishing its long grip on the glass.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Underhill ended the discussion by proposing that Diamantis relinquish the Greek passport to the court when it was returned to him.
    — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • For Circ, the agreement provides a commitment of future demand as the company works to build commercial-scale capacity.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Once their construction is complete, data centres also provide surprisingly few jobs.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 27 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • You are allowed to consider criticism without handing it editorial control.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Frazier, who had become world champion during Ali’s absence, handed the ring-rusty Ali the first loss of his professional career.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Hardliners in Iran initially criticized Pezeshkian and Araghchi’s diplomatic overtures to Washington, deeming a decision to visit the country actively waging war against them as a sign of surrender.
    — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The surrenders reflect a broader challenge the organization is seeing among pet owners, as rising veterinary and other care costs, along with housing restrictions, put increasing pressure on families trying to care for their animals.
    — Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The episode and its subsequent media coverage reveal how personal religious disciplines can be rendered as demands for accommodation.
    — Bhakti Mamtora, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
  • All four of those songs all also appear on proper albums, some in superior re-recordings, rendering the compilation a little redundant.
    — Charles Moss, SPIN, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Its winner, whether filmmaker or rights holder, will give the platform an exclusive license to show the film for a limited period.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Intense sound effects—such as the exceptionally long reverberation and echoes inside the Blue Demon tomb—gave a dramatic soundtrack to this intense, immersive experience.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Notably, the bill allows members to keep their current portfolio and leaves officials in the executive branch untouched.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The nation's flood insurance program struggles to balance affordability, flood protection and cost to taxpayers, leaving millions vulnerable at a time when climate change is driving flood risk higher.
    — MICHAEL PHILLIS, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Recently several of my fellow judges on a literary panel declined to read submissions that were more than two hundred pages long.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Austria has selected the black-and-white drama as its international feature submission.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 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 4 Oct. 2026.

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