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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
as in to pass
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another hand over that screwdriver, will you please?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Until meaningful regulation catches up to the industry’s growth, the burden falls on owners to ask hard questions before handing over the leash. Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2026 Consider using a separate or alias email address for sign-ups, and avoid handing over your phone number unless it is truly needed. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026
Noun
Fast learning cycles, genuine tolerance for failure, real empowerment and leaner handover structures are competitive differentiators. Manmit Shrimali, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 The Fire Department was set to hand control of the building back to Lineage on Monday, but Chief Jaime Moore said that an official handover would have to take place later this week because of ongoing efforts to eliminate hot spots in the warehouse. Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hand over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand over
Verb
  • The Khosla family will be required to relinquish its ownership stake in the 49ers as part of the deal.
    CBS News, CBS News, 12 July 2026
  • Around 2021, this collector relinquished 34 objects (including the bronze Buddhas).
    Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 10 July 2026
Verb
  • In a statement, Academic Senate Chair Ahmet Palazoglu confirmed a policy recommendation would be provided by June 2027.
    Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
  • If approved, the state would have a constitutional mandate to provide free lunches and breakfasts for all K-12 public school students.
    Kirk McClure, Fortune, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • Rescuers recovered 11 bodies, mostly women and children, and handed them over to relatives for burial, Faizi said.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
  • Women’s World Cup 2019 Two second-half goals handed the United States victory over the Netherlands.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Noun
  • The conflict lasted 74 days and ended with an Argentine surrender, returning the islands to British control.
    Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 8 July 2026
  • Four-hour rehearsal days, repetition until instinct replaces self-consciousness, and a certain surrender to imperfection.
    Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Verb
  • Even for those in the financial ‘elite’ that Newcastle hope to join soon, vast transfer spending has rendered sales increasingly integral.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • New state-level AI laws face significant enforcement challenges, rendering many ineffective.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • Newcastle cannot reach the top as quickly as initially hoped post-takeover, given the financial constraints.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • And when given the opportunity, Andrew, 17, enjoys learning about computers, their functioning and how to troubleshoot technical issues.
    The Star, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
Verb
  • 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.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
  • That leaves the amusement park on the border of the Carolinas in Charlotte and Rock Hill without one of its signature attractions at the height of its busy summer season.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • More than 36,000 people have applied since online submissions opened May 1 via Mnet Plus, with almost a third of applicants coming from the Americas.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 July 2026
  • Keep an eye on Dead Meat’s Instagram, where submission details and entry links will be shared in the coming days.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 15 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hand over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand%20over. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!