1
as in relinquished
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 provided
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 left
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 handed
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 handed over
No other product is handed over to the government with such fussy and heavy-handed interference.
—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
Spokesman Thushara Rodrigo said the ministry completed the procedure for repatriating the remains and handed over the bodies of the crew members from the Iranian warship IRIS Dena.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
As a little girl, Alexa Ray Joel would slip into costumes handed over by supermodel mom Christie Brinkley, then prance around performing Disney musicals like Aladdin and The Little Mermaid.
—Leena Tailor, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
Poogan, as the tale goes, was a scrappy, lovable dog who stuck around well after the home’s last occupants boxed up their belongings and handed over their keys in 1976.
—Chelsea Brasted, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
The situation was handed over to the Atlanta Police Department for further investigation into the gunfire.
—Cbs News Atlanta Staff, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
The only thing keeping Mel’s head from exploding is probably the fact that Becca’s case gets handed over to Langdon.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Officials conducted an autopsy on the woman, which led to the investigation being handed over to prosecutors, the prosecutor’s office spokesman told CNN.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
Volunteers recovered a backpack near the search area, which was handed over to sheriff's deputies.
—Helen Rummel, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
Spokesman Thushara Rodrigo said the ministry completed the procedure for repatriating the remains and handed over the bodies of the crew members from the Iranian warship IRIS Dena.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
As a little girl, Alexa Ray Joel would slip into costumes handed over by supermodel mom Christie Brinkley, then prance around performing Disney musicals like Aladdin and The Little Mermaid.
—Leena Tailor, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
Poogan, as the tale goes, was a scrappy, lovable dog who stuck around well after the home’s last occupants boxed up their belongings and handed over their keys in 1976.
—Chelsea Brasted, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
The situation was handed over to the Atlanta Police Department for further investigation into the gunfire.
—Cbs News Atlanta Staff, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
The only thing keeping Mel’s head from exploding is probably the fact that Becca’s case gets handed over to Langdon.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Officials conducted an autopsy on the woman, which led to the investigation being handed over to prosecutors, the prosecutor’s office spokesman told CNN.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
Volunteers recovered a backpack near the search area, which was handed over to sheriff's deputies.
—Helen Rummel, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handed over
Verb
-
The first goal came when goalkeeper John Pulskamp relinquished the ball to opposing striker Wessam Abou Ali in the box.—
PJ Green
March 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Two were relinquished in the 1990s.—
Coalter G Lathrop,
The Conversation,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In contrast to that excitement, the Oscar for best supporting actor provided almost no drama whatsoever.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
16 Mar. 2026
-
That could, some insiders say, be the current trend, three-year contracts, instead of five or six, with enough resources provided to give the new coach a chance to rebuild quickly through the transfer portal.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Afterwards, in the Coliseum tunnel, a beaming Ellwood was handed a phone with Principal Andy Abner on the other end.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Also Sunday, Deniz Undav scored for the fifth Bundesliga game in a row as a goalkeeping blunder handed Stuttgart a 1-0 win over Leipzig to strengthen its push to qualify for the Champions League.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors said the rifle was rendered inoperable before Jalloh left the store, unbeknownst to Jalloh.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Each story is rendered in lifelike hues, with the sunlight and widespread rural greenery offering a sense of secret possibility where none might truly exist, like some kind of hope far off in the distance.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For the occasion, my mother had put on her Balenciaga, a black dress with two wide shoulder straps, a firm bodice, a full skirt that ended a few inches above the ankles, and the illusion of an underskirt supplied by a band of taffeta ruffles, also black, that peeked out from beneath the hem.—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The world is abundantly supplied with oil and energy.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The waterfall was acquired by Mount Angel Abbey in 1908 and transferred to The Abbey Foundation of Oregon, a nonprofit that supports the abbey, in 2002, according to Amanda Staggenborg, the foundation’s communications director.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Senior guard Kyra Gardner transferred from Washington State and earned Big Sky Newcomer of the Year.—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Both officers surrendered, were booked and later released, police said.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Cabrera surrendered one run in 3 2/3 innings Thursday against the Seattle Mariners while striking out three and, perhaps most importantly, not walking a batter.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Girl Scout Ava Duff gave a speech and led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by other speakers and a wreath-laying ceremony at the first lady’s grave site in Yorba Linda.—
Jeff Gritchen,
Oc Register,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Deputies gave him several doses of Narcan, a medicine that rapidly reverses opioid overdoses, and began CPR, the sheriff’s office said.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handed over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handed%20over. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
