hand down

verb

handed down; handing down; hands down
Synonyms of hand downnext

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.
My favorite sketch so far was hands down, Snack Homies. Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Dec. 2025 The history of this brand is quite symbolic: its name is directly inspired by the Joseon dynasty, whose beauty rituals were handed down through the generations. Marie Courtois, Vogue, 1 Dec. 2025 Circuit Court David Borowski handed down Roby's sentence on Oct. 24, court records show. Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 25 Nov. 2025 Meanwhile, the 49ers got much better news about a potential punishment that will be handed down to Jennings for his role in the altercation. Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 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 16 Dec. 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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