handshake

noun

hand·​shake ˈhan(d)-ˌshāk How to pronounce handshake (audio)
: a clasping usually of right hands by two people (as in greeting or farewell)

Examples of handshake in a Sentence

She greeted him with a handshake. He has a firm handshake.
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.
As Trump arrived at the official residence of the French president, Macron went out of his way to project an image of close ties, offering handshakes and plenty of back-patting for the cameras. Sylvie Corbet, arkansasonline.com, 8 Dec. 2024 More News: Vikings Star Defender Has Injury Status Confirmed Ahead of Falcons Matchup In Week 5, Bynum celebrated his interception of Aaron Rodgers in the first quarter of the Vikings' win over the Jets in London by recreating the iconic handshake from the 1998 Disney movie The Parent Trap. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024 In the right-field Stadium Club at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, where dozens of media members gathered for yet another introductory news conference welcoming a star player to the organization, the Dodgers flexed their financial muscles with businesslike handshakes and celebratory smiles. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024 In March, a handshake deal between Leonsis and Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin for a $2.2 billion mixed-use district in Alexandria, including a new arena for the Capitals and Wizards, fell apart after the town ended negotiations with Monumental. Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for handshake 

Word History

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of handshake was in 1802

Dictionary Entries Near handshake

Cite this Entry

“Handshake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handshake. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

handshake

noun
hand·​shake -ˌshāk How to pronounce handshake (audio)
: a clasping of hands by two people especially in greeting or farewell

More from Merriam-Webster on handshake

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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