handcuff
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
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handcuffs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
handcuffed,
past participle, past
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handcuffing
present participle
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to put handcuffs on.
-
to restrain or thwart (someone) by or as if by handcuffing.
The amendments handcuffed the committee and prevented further action.
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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handcuffsimple
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handcuffssimple
-
have handcuffedperfect
-
has handcuffedperfect
-
am handcuffingprogressive
-
are handcuffingprogressive
-
is handcuffingprogressive
-
have been handcuffingperfect progressive
-
has been handcuffingperfect progressive
Past
-
handcuffedsimple
-
had handcuffedperfect
-
was handcuffingprogressive
-
were handcuffingprogressive
-
had been handcuffingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of handcuff
Explanation
A handcuff is a metal restraint that closes around a person's wrist. When police arrest a suspect, they often put handcuffs on him. You'll almost always find this word in its plural form, since handcuffs come in pairs, one for each wrist. It's also a verb, meaning "to put handcuffs on a person." Police officers carry handcuffs with them, so that they're ready to handcuff criminals and troublemakers. Handcuffs hold the wrists close to each other, usually behind the wearer's back. The earliest meaning of handcuff was "decorative sleeve," in the 1640s.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Having retirement dollars mainly in traditional savings plans can handcuff older workers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
“This is a family town,” the arresting officer tells jeering onlookers as he and the two others handcuff Gamble.
From Slate ● May 4, 2026
Asked about the raid and agents’ conduct, DHS said, “ICE does not zip tie or handcuff children.”
From Salon ● Mar. 26, 2026
Officials were able to extinguish the flames and handcuff the suspect, identified as Adam Lopez, 39.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2025
They surround us, but don't handcuff us, and walk us to the elevator bank.
From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
The security agency released a video showing black-clad officers placing handcuffs on a man who is later shown powering up a laptop in front of the operatives.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
The woman’s boyfriend, an off-duty police officer, then placed Gonzalez in handcuffs, according to the statement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026
Footage of the 31-year-old in handcuffs and surrounded by police officers appeared on social media on Sunday.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
In this latest occurrence, footage shared on social media on Sunday showed Carse in handcuffs, surrounded by police officers.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
With one expert strike, he broke the goddess’s handcuffs.
From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan
The footage shows officers arriving Thursday in Marble Hill to find Oscar Belgal, 28, wounded, handcuffed and seated on the ground.
From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026
Blanche unveiled the Minnesota cases while surrounded by poster-sized photos of some of the arrestees being handcuffed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
Several plastic storage bins were visible in the driveway, and a man was briefly handcuffed and placed in a patrol car before being released.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
"He was handcuffed until around 2am," Claire Dobbin KC, the inquiry's lead lawyer, said.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
When Zach stepped toward us, I wondered if he’d been handcuffed, fingerprinted, photographed, pushed around.
From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd
"His handcuffing in hospital at a point when he must have been close to death, all require separate examination."
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
Videos on social media showed federal authorities in Charlotte handcuffing people and leading them into cars.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 16, 2025
“It’s frustrating because these new rules are handcuffing homeowners associations,” Peters said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2025
Videos of Ms Ozturk's arrest in March, showing masked plain-clothes officers handcuffing her and taking her into an unmarked car after a Ramadan celebration, sparked nation-wide protests.
From BBC ● May 9, 2025
The suggestion was firmly rejected, a sergeant informing Mr. Muckle that handcuffing a bunch of middle- school kids wouldn’t be good for the public safety department’s image.
From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen
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