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
According to court documents, Bressington first tried asking Reddit to hand over information about the users in the thread. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Jan. 2026 Venezuela passed the 1943 Hydrocarbons Law, which forced foreign oil companies to hand over half of their oil profits, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
Early priorities would be to impose a basic chain of command and restore administrative capacity, stabilizing the currency and payments system, and sequencing reforms to prevent state collapse during the handover. Robert Muggah, The Conversation, 4 Jan. 2026 However, the handover was delayed by one day after Thailand made allegations of ceasefire violations by Cambodia, which Cambodia denied. CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hand over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand over
Verb
  • The supply issue partly reflects years of underbuilding after the 2008 financial crisis, as well as the reluctance of homeowners who locked in ultra-low mortgage rates during the ensuing recession to relinquish their properties.
    Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
  • What impresses Lanthimos most is Plemons’ willingness to relinquish control.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The vast majority of these deaths are caused by illicit fentanyl which experts report is typically synthesized in Mexico from precursor chemicals provided by Chinese operatives and brought into the United States via vehicles passing through official ports of entry.
    Charles LeBaron, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
  • From 2018 to July 2024, Thola-Duran directed crime groups from Central and South America to travel to various parts of the United States to commit thefts, using cars provided by DPR, the indictment filed in Los Angeles federal court states.
    City News Service, Daily News, 13 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The Hollywood Foreign Press Association also spoke in favor of Glen Powell, when the voting body of the Golden Globes handed him a nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
  • A little more than an hour after the game ended, an equipment staff member handed Goedert’s jersey, complete with grass stains on the eagle shoulder patch, to The Realest.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The last time the Hoosiers were this close to a football championship, people crowded Miami's Flagler Street to celebrate the Japanese surrender in World War II.
    Larry Seward, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
  • Far better, Beijing’s thinking goes, to scare Taiwan into surrender with drills and other displays of violence.
    Andy Browne, semafor.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • This transformation renders the target — the frozen limit — a finite object that a finite computer can handle.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Its three glittering diamonds had a powerful effect on Sophie Rhys-Jones—rendering her speechless.
    Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Historically, the water’s purity was singular, giving life to a watershed that flourished because of a unique paucity of nutrients, a situation that hindered the pursuit of any single species that would dominate the rest.
    Amy Green, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Utopia Bedding Quilted Comforter This Utopia Bedding comforter keeps my bed looking super fluffy and cloud-like and gives my bedroom an expensive look.
    Genevieve Cepeda, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The departure of Stockton and Warren leaves head coach Spencer Danielson with the task of replacing two secondary coaches.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Members of the Minneapolis City Council, in a joint statement, demanded that ICE leave the city following the shooting.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This burger beat out 600,000 fan submissions to get a spot on national menus, according to a press release.
    Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The number of nominees will be proportional to the number of submissions in each genre with at least one nomination for each genre.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 9 Jan. 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 18 Jan. 2026.

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