as in advantage
the more favorable condition or position in a competition
finally gained the upper hand in the argument
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Recent Examples of upper hand
Democrat wins in final Senate race call but Republicans keep upper hand.
—
Fox News, 12 Nov. 2024
The ability to make informed decisions quickly is a competitive advantage for businesses, and being able to analyze data can give companies an upper hand.
—Alex Kudos, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Morgan says outsiders — like tech entrepreneur Beto Altamirano and former Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos — have an upper hand, in part because support among current councilmembers will be split.
—Megan Stringer, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024
Devine has upper hand in campaign support, experience Texas is one of eight states where partisan elections govern the selection of justices to the state's highest civil and criminal courts.
—Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman, 27 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for upper hand 
Fox News, 12 Nov. 2024
The ability to make informed decisions quickly is a competitive advantage for businesses, and being able to analyze data can give companies an upper hand.
—Alex Kudos, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Morgan says outsiders — like tech entrepreneur Beto Altamirano and former Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos — have an upper hand, in part because support among current councilmembers will be split.
—Megan Stringer, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024
Devine has upper hand in campaign support, experience Texas is one of eight states where partisan elections govern the selection of justices to the state's highest civil and criminal courts.
—Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman, 27 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for upper hand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upper hand
Noun
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One primary advantage of confidence is that other people do in fact eat it up.Rachel Sugar, Vox, 13 Jan. 2025
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That actually worked to Naperville North’s advantage.Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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He was rated as the No. 1 edge rusher by Rivals and On3 in the 2024 recruiting cycle.Mitch Sherman, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
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But something else has been cultivated in the process of essentially playing a full extra season in the last six years: a prevailing psychological edge that should gird them for the playoffs in a way no other current NFL team can know.Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Elevate and rattle from high ground, or a tree stand or tripod, to spot more bucks.Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
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And for people who are still in the path of disaster, Hecht said, pay them to move to high ground.Peter Green, Quartz, 14 Oct. 2024
Noun
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That’s why most of us are intrigued to hear about the new consumer-facing devices and developments coming from the tech industry—and no one has a better inside track on that information than the members of Forbes Technology Council.Expert Panel®, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
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Pittsburgh, Nebraska, Penn State and Louisville earned top regional seeds Sunday in the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament and an inside track to the national semifinals.Mitch Sherman, The Athletic, 2 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Upper hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upper%20hand. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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