hand up

verb

handed up; handing up; hands up

transitive verb

of a jury
: to deliver (an indictment) to a judge or higher judicial authority

Examples of hand up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Students followed officers holding their hands up in a sense of disbelief a shooting had just occurred on campus. Graham Hurley, Aaron Fisher and Katherine Jennings, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2025 James briefly holds his hands up in frustration but gets another chance when Bogle comes in on his blindside to rescue the play. Beren Cross, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025 Barrett looked around with his hands up in disbelief. Brian Sampson, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025 Missionaries also distributed money, medicine and clothes to women in need, simultaneously offering them a handout and a hand up. Jenna Deep, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hand up

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hand up was in 1970

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hand up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hand%20up. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

Legal Definition

hand up

transitive verb
: to deliver (an indictment) to a judge or higher judicial authority
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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