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
That could gain the upper hand if the House remains divided.
—
Peter Sullivan, Axios, 10 Feb. 2025
By focusing on this golden marketing period of the New Year, these brands have gained the upper hand in the Tencent ecosystem.
—Li Jun, WWD, 9 Feb. 2025
Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones engaged in one of the most bitter rivalries ever seen in the UFC, with Jones claiming the upper hand in both of their encounters.
—Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
Aoun, Salam, and their allies can prevent Hezbollah from gaining the upper hand.
—Hanin Ghaddar, Foreign Affairs, 4 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for the upper hand 
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Peter Sullivan, Axios, 10 Feb. 2025
By focusing on this golden marketing period of the New Year, these brands have gained the upper hand in the Tencent ecosystem.
—Li Jun, WWD, 9 Feb. 2025
Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones engaged in one of the most bitter rivalries ever seen in the UFC, with Jones claiming the upper hand in both of their encounters.
—Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
Aoun, Salam, and their allies can prevent Hezbollah from gaining the upper hand.
—Hanin Ghaddar, Foreign Affairs, 4 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for the upper hand
Dictionary Entries Near 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 21 Feb. 2025.
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