the upper hand
noun
: the position of having power or being in control in a particular situation
He always has to have the upper hand.
—sometimes used figurativelyThe infection was gaining the upper hand and the patient's condition was deteriorating.
Examples of the upper hand in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And how can bettors gain the upper hand in the women’s game ahead of the May 24 final in Lisbon?
Betting on inefficiency — why the women’s teams deserve your bet
Brand prestige shapes perception, but betting markets are meant to price reality instead of pandering to public opinion.
—
Julia Ranney, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Uruguay's security forces gained the upper hand over the Tupamaros by the time the military swept to power in a 1973 coup, marking the start of a 12-year dictatorship in which about 200 people were kidnapped and killed.
—Reuters, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2025
China still appears to potentially have the upper hand in negotiations.
—Ashley Belanger – May 7, ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025
Deep Cleaning Carpets and Upholstery While there are plenty of carpet and upholstery cleaner machines on the market, there’s no denying the professionals have the upper hand with this one.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for the upper hand
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Julia Ranney, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Uruguay's security forces gained the upper hand over the Tupamaros by the time the military swept to power in a 1973 coup, marking the start of a 12-year dictatorship in which about 200 people were kidnapped and killed.
—Reuters, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2025
China still appears to potentially have the upper hand in negotiations.
—Ashley Belanger – May 7, ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025
Deep Cleaning Carpets and Upholstery While there are plenty of carpet and upholstery cleaner machines on the market, there’s no denying the professionals have the upper hand with this one.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for the upper hand
Cite this Entry
“The upper hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20upper%20hand. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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