upper hand

noun

: mastery, advantage, control

was determined not to let the opposition get the upper hand

Synonyms

• advantage
• better
• bulge
• catbird seat
• drop
• edge
• high ground
• inside track
• jump
• pull
• stead
• vantage
• whip hand

Examples of upper hand in a Sentence

finally gained the upper hand in the argument

Recent Examples on the Web

Listen to this article GAINESVILLE — Ailing and unable to gain an upper hand on Vanderbilt, No. 6 Florida turned to a 20-year-old sophomore from Slovenia to scratch out a critical SEC win. —Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2025

This history shows that buying territory in the Arctic has been a longstanding practice for geopolitical rivals struggling to gain an upper hand and ensure their own defense. —James Patton Rogers & Caroline Kennedy Pipe / Made By History , TIME, 23 Jan. 2025

Related Articles Firefighters gain upper hand after 80-acre Bonsall fire forces evacuations in California Editorial: Colorado’s new last-resort insurance company shares a name with California’s. —Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 23 Jan. 2025

Liberals will hope that recent shifts in the electorate, along with a potential reaction to Trump, can once again give them an upper hand this year. —Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for upper hand

• ampersand
• beforehand
• behindhand
• bottomland
• contraband
• countermand
• dixieland
• fairyland
• fatherland
• firebrand
• hinterland
• motherland

Kids Definition

upper hand

noun

: the position of being ahead or in control