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

The Thunder have won a franchise-record 15 in a row and are coming to Cleveland Wednesday in what is, hands down, the game of the year in the NBA to this point. —Joe Vardon, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025

Amazon This is, hands down, a classic wedding guest dress choice. —Rachel Sylvester, Glamour, 6 Jan. 2025

The jury's verdict, handed down last summer, made Trump the first U.S. president, current or former, to be criminally convicted. —Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 3 Jan. 2025

State District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble of Travis County on Dec. 19 handed down the award, which amounts to 17.5% of a record 2019 settlement of more than $200 million the state reached with Xerox State Healthcare, formerly known as ACS State Healthcare. —John C. Moritz, Austin American-Statesman, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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)