handshake

noun

hand·​shake ˈhan(d)-ˌshāk How to pronounce handshake (audio)
: a clasping usually of right hands by two people (as in greeting or farewell)

Examples of handshake in a Sentence

She greeted him with a handshake. He has a firm handshake.
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.
Meanwhile, Rhodes looked like an even bigger star after the victory and Gunther’s post-match handshake, which is fitting for a throwback character who treats wrestling like a legitimate sport. Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024 Smaller sips are also tied to an old tradition called the bartender’s handshake: The ritual involves offering a small, 1- or 2-ounce drink or shot to welcome a fellow bartender. Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2024 Hot mics allowed How Walz and Vance interact — handshake, eye rolls, cross-talk bickering, etc. — at Tuesday's debate will depend in part on the debate rules, and a significant difference from the Harris-Trump faceoff will be CBS News allowing hot microphones. Phillip M. Bailey, The Enquirer, 30 Sep. 2024 Bonnie should get away with a short sentence and a handshake from the mayor for burning down that atrocity to the skyline. Erin Qualey, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for handshake 

Word History

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of handshake was in 1802

Dictionary Entries Near handshake

Cite this Entry

“Handshake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handshake. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

handshake

noun
hand·​shake -ˌshāk How to pronounce handshake (audio)
: a clasping of hands by two people especially in greeting or farewell

More from Merriam-Webster on handshake

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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