1
as in relinquishes
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 provides
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 hands
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 passes
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another
hand over that screwdriver, will you please?
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 hands over
Ellis then asked a new citizen from Syria to lead the Pledge of Allegiance as the group rose and placed their hands over their hearts.
—
Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Arthur also hands over Roman's backpack, which Major Crimes investigates.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Yesavage’s father cupped two hands over his mouth and yelled from the crowd.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
These agencies use a courier who physically hands over the documentation and can provide additional details on where your passport is in the process.
—AFAR Media, 23 Sep. 2025
Wilson looked stunned, putting her hands over her mouth and dropping to the floor as her teammates surrounded her and cheered.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Robert finally hands over control of Downton to his daughter Mary and starts the process of downsizing.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
And then two masked men burst through the back doors, demand everyone hands over their valuables, and stick a gun in Jake’s face.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Imagine being a parent in an airport when your child flees the restroom, hands over their ears, and runs into a crowd of strangers.
—Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Arthur also hands over Roman's backpack, which Major Crimes investigates.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Yesavage’s father cupped two hands over his mouth and yelled from the crowd.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
These agencies use a courier who physically hands over the documentation and can provide additional details on where your passport is in the process.
—AFAR Media, 23 Sep. 2025
Wilson looked stunned, putting her hands over her mouth and dropping to the floor as her teammates surrounded her and cheered.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Robert finally hands over control of Downton to his daughter Mary and starts the process of downsizing.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
And then two masked men burst through the back doors, demand everyone hands over their valuables, and stick a gun in Jake’s face.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Imagine being a parent in an airport when your child flees the restroom, hands over their ears, and runs into a crowd of strangers.
—Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hands over
Verb
-
The first rule of power politics is that nobody relinquishes authority willingly.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
-
In a street vacation, the city relinquishes the right of way or public service easement to an adjacent property owner or owners.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The program provides as much as $298 monthly for a single person to $1,756 for a family of eight.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The company has previously said that producing in the Asian nation provides a 25-percent cost advantage when stacked against its production efforts in the Central America region.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
He is whisked away from a charity basketball event to his Air Force One, where Lieutenant Commander Robert Reeves (Jonah Hauer-King) hands him the Black Bag and instructs him to choose which retaliatory strike option to approve.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Sullivan then hands Cameron his radio and tells him to take Jones to the medic truck.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In California, Gavin Newsom‘s presidential ambitions stand to get a boost if his redistricting initiative, Proposition 50, passes.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The trail passes through burn areas from massive wildfires, now sprinkled with young lodgepole pines and wildflowers.—
Outside,
Outside,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This alignment, which occurred around October 22, renders the comet invisible from Earth.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Accidentally deploying one is considered a serious mistake, as each slide can cost tens of thousands of dollars to repack and replace, and often renders the aircraft temporarily inoperable.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Advertisement Back at the bookstore, the hilarity gives way to a confrontation that shakes Lee to his core.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
-
At least setting up for the party gives the crew something else to do besides dressing the women’s wounds and blow-drying their hair.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The defeat, Nuno Espirito Santo’s first win as West Ham coach, leaves Newcastle 13th, five points ahead of West Ham in 18th and 13 points behind league leaders Arsenal.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Parsley leaves also turn bitter after bolting.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
At crucial moments, however, one force surrenders to the other to produce an ambiguous collaboration.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Dallas has given up the most passing yards in the league, and their secondary surrenders lots of open windows.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hands over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hands%20over. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share