hand over — 2 meanings

One phrase, 2 different jobs. Tap a meaning to jump to it — then lock each one in by saying it out loud.

phrasal verb2 meanings

1 give control or possessionto give someone else control of something, or to give them something you are holding or responsible for.
2 transfer responsibility (abstract)to delegate or relinquish responsibility, authority, or a role to another person or group, often in a formal or organizational context.

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Ordered by how often you'll hear each one — the meaning tells you what it does, the examples and tips show it in use.

give control or possession

B1hand over sth to sbMost common

to give someone else control of something, or to give them something you are holding or responsible for.

The police officer asked him to hand over his driver's license.

A: Can you hand over the remote?
B: Sure, here you go.

In my previous job, I had to hand over all my responsibilities to a new colleague before I left the company.

Common mistake

✗He handed the keys over me.

✓He handed the keys over to me.

The recipient needs 'to' — 'hand it over TO someone'.

Tell it apart

Hand over your phone.

give it up / pass it to me now

Hand in your phone at reception.

submit it to be kept

Use 'hand over' when you are passing something (like keys, documents, or responsibility) to another person, often officially or because you have to.'Hand in' means to submit something (like homework), while 'hand over' is about giving control or possession, often to another person or authority.

Often paired with

hand over + thing

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transfer responsibility (abstract)

C1hand over sth to sb

to delegate or relinquish responsibility, authority, or a role to another person or group, often in a formal or organizational context.

After ten years as CEO, she decided it was time to hand over responsibility to a new generation of leaders.

A: Are you still leading the project?
B: No, I handed over the role to Priya last month so I could focus on other priorities.

In many organizations, it is essential to have a clear process for handing over authority to ensure continuity and avoid confusion during leadership transitions.

Common mistake

✗She handed over her duties for the new manager.

✓She handed over her duties to the new manager.

You hand over TO the person taking over, not 'for'.

Tell it apart

I'm handing over to Sam.

giving Sam my role

Sam is taking over from me.

receiving my role

'Hand over' in this sense is commonly used in professional, academic, or organizational contexts when discussing changes in leadership, management, or responsibility. It does not refer to physically giving an object, but rather to the abstract act of transferring duties or authority.Unlike the B1 sense, which focuses on physically giving something or control, this sense is abstract and emphasizes the transfer of responsibility or authority, often as part of a process or transition.

Often paired with

hand over + role

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give control or possession transfer responsibility (abstract)