hand in

phrasal verb·2 senses·particle in

Meanings

1

Submit something formally to a person or office

Why “in”? Something goes into a system after it was held back, like a form, a story, or pressure.

Hand in your homework.
Submit your homework formally.
Hand in the form at reception.
Submit the form formally at reception.
2

Return found property to authorities

He handed the wallet in to the police.
He returned the wallet to the police as found property.
She handed the lost phone in.
She returned the lost phone as found property.

Don't confuse with

hand inhand out

Hand in means submit something formally to a person or office. Hand out means give something to several people.

hand inhand back

Hand in means return found property to authorities. Hand back means return something by giving it back.

Test yourself

Hand in your homework. What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.

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