handstand

noun

hand·​stand ˈhan(d)-ˌstand How to pronounce handstand (audio)
: an act of supporting the body on the hands with the trunk and legs balanced in the air

Examples of handstand 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.
Almost anyone can get to that point with an extra-hard bodyweight exercise like a handstand push-up. — Jennifer Heimlich, SELF, 24 Mar. 2026 With bars, keep an eye on the handstands, where judges are looking for athletes to finish the skill directly above the bar, rather than at an angle. — Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026 That storyline was cut short in the first few seconds of Chiles’ competition on Thursday when the senior fell off the bars on her first handstand. — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2026 Chiles wrapped up the Bruins’ first rotation with a handstand fall off the tall uneven bar to begin and had to restart her routine, costing her a half-point reduction. — Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for handstand

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of handstand was in 1890

Rhymes for handstand

See All Rhymes for handstand

Browse Nearby Words

handstamper
handstand
handstick
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Handstand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handstand. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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