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
Coleman said with a smile while running his hand over his forehead. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026 In with mystery, out with oversharing La Colombe in Cape Town debuted a Secret Cellar in 2024, an intimate subterranean enclave where guests hand over their phones before the meal begins. — Nathan Tavares, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
Whether every handover led to a deportation, Breshears couldn’t say. — Francesca D’annunzio, ProPublica, 25 Oct. 2026 The handover comes as President Min Aung Hlaing seeks to ease Myanmar’s international isolation, while regional governments continue urging Suu Kyi’s release. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hand over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand over
Verb
  • Media outlets and local institutions are shifting as Vucic vows to fight back and his party faces calls to relinquish control in cities and towns.
    — Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
  • No other Dolphins defender relinquished more than 13 yards in completions on Sunday, according to PFF.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The reported 5% net energy saving accounts for that additional energy demand, although the institute has not provided a detailed breakdown of the trial results.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2026
  • In a world where chatbots and agents easily answer most generic questions for free, the value of news organizations seeking payment from readers could be to provide a perspective that audiences know has been verified by a human being.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 9 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Russell Brand’s Trial Brand, once one of Britain's most ​high-profile broadcasters, was handed his jail sentence at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday.
    — Oliver Trapnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Israeli President Isaac Herzog handed Netanyahu’s rival Gadi Eisenkot the chance to form the country’s next government.
    — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 10 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Policy loans can reduce the death benefit, and a lapse or surrender with an outstanding loan may create a taxable gain.
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Sherman had previewed his strategy during the Atlanta Campaign, which forced the city’s surrender.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • He’s charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, failure to render aid, and failure to obey a traffic control signal.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Ryan faces six misdemeanor charges, including leaving the scene and failing to render aid.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Joji Waites, director of flight safety, policy and regulation at the British Air Line Pilots Association, said airline assessors grade a threat as red, amber or green, but that an amber verdict would never be given if the plane is airborne.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Wiles gave Trump her resignation Thursday night, a person familiar with the events told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe the private conversation.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Mercury retrograde in Scorpio leaves room for private reflection, too.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Pike, 50, survived two doses of pentobarbital in September, which her attorneys say probably did not enter her bloodstream correctly and instead pooled in her arms, leaving them burned and blistered.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The festival screened 71 films from 38 countries, selected from 1,802 submissions from 72 countries, with Italy serving as Country of Honor.
    — Essie Assibu, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Its inventory depends on what sellers send in—making the timing of those submissions particularly relevant ahead of the holidays.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 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 14 Nov. 2026.

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