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 figuratively
The 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Firefighters began to gain the upper hand on the fire throughout Saturday afternoon, keeping the flames within the burn scar and building containment lines around the fire. — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 Heron fought back and managed to gain the upper hand, but one of the attackers pulled a gun and shot him, deputies say. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026 This home run gave the team the lead, the win, and the upper hand in the best-of-seven series. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026 The Braves return from California on Monday having split two games with the Dodgers and, seemingly, now having the upper hand in the best-of-five National League Division Series. — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for the upper hand

Rhymes for the upper hand

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Browse Nearby Words

the upper crust
the upper hand
the upshot
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Cite this Entry

“The upper hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20upper%20hand. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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