as in advantage
the more favorable condition or position in a competition
finally gained the upper hand in the argument
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Recent Examples of upper hand
Its UAVs have been instrumental in Turkey gaining an upper hand in its fight against Kurdish militants.
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Suzan Fraser, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Oct. 2024
Ralston Valley 6-1 6 W (47-7 vs. Denver South)
Comment: Mustangs one of those rare programs that have had upper hand on Columbine recently.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2024
Weekend Brief spoke with a number of players and observers in the worlds in which Google operates to learn about the problems, possibilities, and potential pitfalls of ending Google’s upper hand.
—Peter Green, Quartz, 21 Sep. 2024
And the conflict could remain a stalemate for years to come, with no side gaining the decisive upper hand.
—Andrew J. Tabler, Foreign Affairs, 11 June 2013
See all Example Sentences for upper hand 
Suzan Fraser, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Oct. 2024
Ralston Valley 6-1 6 W (47-7 vs. Denver South)
Comment: Mustangs one of those rare programs that have had upper hand on Columbine recently.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2024
Weekend Brief spoke with a number of players and observers in the worlds in which Google operates to learn about the problems, possibilities, and potential pitfalls of ending Google’s upper hand.
—Peter Green, Quartz, 21 Sep. 2024
And the conflict could remain a stalemate for years to come, with no side gaining the decisive upper hand.
—Andrew J. Tabler, Foreign Affairs, 11 June 2013
See all Example Sentences for upper hand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upper hand
Noun
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took advantage in December 2019, while Ten Hag got the better of the eventual treble winners in January 2023, who at that point were struggling to get up to speed after the Qatar World Cup.Sam Lee, The Athletic, 14 Dec. 2024
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The stylish and refined CLA takes full advantage of its lack of transmission tunnel to present console area storage possibilities and thankfully leaves circular air vents mostly in the past.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Read More: See Photos from the Raging Franklin Fire in Malibu Much of the devastation occurred in Malibu, a community of about 10,000 people on the western edge of Los Angeles known for its stunning bluffs and Zuma Beach, which features in many Hollywood films.Christopher Weber, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
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Then use a thin metal spatula to loosen bars around the edges of the pan.Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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And for people who are still in the path of disaster, Hecht said, pay them to move to high ground.Peter Green, Quartz, 14 Oct. 2024
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Some cooked food on charcoal grills or hiked to high ground in the hopes of finding a signal to call loved ones.Erik Verduzco and Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Pittsburgh, Nebraska, Penn State and Louisville earned top regional seeds Sunday in the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament and an inside track to the national semifinals.Mitch Sherman, The Athletic, 2 Dec. 2024
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Who even at this point has the person with inside track on the jury?Dalton Ross, EW.com, 28 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near upper hand
Cite this Entry
“Upper hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upper%20hand. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
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