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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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to hand
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
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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
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Recent Examples of hand over
ABC News,
30 June 2026
The long delivery schedule reflects the complexity of modern submarine construction, with continuous deliveries planned before the final vessel is handed over in 2038.
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Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 June 2026
Jennifer Hassan,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
Critics say Beijing’s promise to allow the city to maintain its Western-style civil liberties after the 1997 handover is increasingly threadbare.
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ABC News,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hand over
Verb
Hours later, as the bodies of the children were being handed over to their families, scenes of anguish unfolded outside hospitals and in the neighborhood on the outskirts of Lahore where the private tutoring center was located in a house.
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ABC News,
30 June 2026
The long delivery schedule reflects the complexity of modern submarine construction, with continuous deliveries planned before the final vessel is handed over in 2038.
—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 June 2026
Noun
The decision is a rare move from The Household Division, which oversees the ceremonial duties of the British Army and comes during one of the busiest seasons for British tourism – with many spectators flocking to royal residences to witness the historic military handover.
—
Jennifer Hassan,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
Critics say Beijing’s promise to allow the city to maintain its Western-style civil liberties after the 1997 handover is increasingly threadbare.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hand over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand over
Verb
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Willow Nightingale relinquished the championship in May due to a shoulder injury that also forced her out of the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, leading AEW to create this match to crown a new champion.
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But for Iran, reopening the strait does not mean relinquishing control of it.
Verb
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Stroll the historic downtown for antiques, art, and more, all while the adjacent Truckee River provides a natural soundtrack.
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The state also provides a $20 per month taxable subsidy for workers who commute using a bike for at least half of work days each month.
Verb
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For purpose, whether anyone can trace their daily work to the larger picture without being handed a slogan.
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In the midst of handing the job over to his son, even as Diego is making a speech about water supplies, hygiene and education, Don Alejandro snatches it back to cheers, clutches his heart and dies.
Noun
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The guards outside the Red Keep surrender, but inside – where the dragons cannot go – is another matter, and the two fight their way to the throne room, where a large contingent of men-at-arms and knights awaits, gloating.
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Liberty, freedom, equality and revolution are the focus of an innovative exhibit at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, Virginia, on the site where the struggle for independence effectively ended with British surrender of October 19, 1781.
Verb
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About 11,000 light-years away from Earth, the supernova Cassiopeia A’s X-rays (seen above) are rendered in blue and purple, while infrared wavelengths are shown in red and white using data from JWST.
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Still, Twain squandered his own fortune and Livy’s inheritance on developing Paige’s invention, even as the Mergenthaler Linotype became the industry standard, rendering Paige’s machine worthless.
Verb
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When this place is eventually gone — a phrase that feels truly bizarre given the environment this summer and the half-century preceding it — the lasting images will be the seas of red.
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Officials advise the public to give bears space and not let pets bother them.
Verb
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The video assistant referee called for a review of the play while the two were down getting tended to by trainers, leaving the Americans to nurse their lead down a man for the rest of the game.
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Two of the attackers then smashed the windshield of the news van with a parking cone and damaged the camera before leaving the scene.
Noun
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The statement amounted to a complete submission to Thomas, who used her Tuesday media availability to blast Engelbert.
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With three different categories, judges from across the USA TODAY Network ranked each submission in order to narrow down the contest to just 30 finalists.
Cite this Entry
“Hand over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand%20over. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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