hand down

verb

handed down; handing down; hands down

transitive verb

1
: to transmit in succession (as from father to son)
2
: to make official formulation of and express (the opinion of a court)

Examples of hand down 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.
Jefferson later maintained that any decision to emancipate slaves must be part of a democratic process and not handed down by, say, executive order. Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2025 Of that diagnosis and the heft of the treatment Kimmy: hands down. Outside Online, 26 Mar. 2025 The indictment handed down accuses a former president of AFGE Local 2419 of defrauding the union local of hundreds of thousands of dollars through an 'unauthorized' consulting agreement. Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2025 Miller, then 17, stuck his hands down her pants, then grabbed her and stuck her hands down his pants. Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hand down

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hand down was in 1651

Cite this Entry

“Hand down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hand%20down. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

hand down

verb
1
: to pass down from older to younger (as from parent to child)
2
: to form and express a judicial decision

Legal Definition

hand down

transitive verb
1
: to deliver (the decision or opinion of an appellate court) to the proper office of an inferior court
2
: to make an official formulation of and announce (the decision of a court)

More from Merriam-Webster on hand down

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