handcuff
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
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handcuffs,
present (3rd person singular)
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handcuffed,
past participle, past
-
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
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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
But in a statement released two days after the incident, the department said the officer was attempting to handcuff the teen.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2026
Asked about the raid and agents’ conduct, DHS said, “ICE does not zip tie or handcuff children.”
From Salon ● Mar. 26, 2026
Cole was surprised that the guard did not handcuff him as long as Garvey accompanied them.
From "Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen
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
A grainy image purporting to show the moment of arrest shows five men sitting on the ground, shirtless and in handcuffs under guard by police officers.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
Images circulating on social media on Sunday showed Carse in handcuffs and surrounded by police officers while the pace bowler was on a night out in Derby on Saturday.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
A flurry of thoughts flash by: police sirens; handcuffs; courtrooms; interrogation chambers.
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
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
Love appears to be wearing red Niners gear as he is handcuffed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
He remained in his car for several minutes before police showed up, ICE handcuffed him, and an ambulance arrived.
From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026
Police officers are arguing with the protesters and a tall man with dreads has his hands handcuffed behind him.
From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée
The footage showed officers turning him on to his side, handcuffing his hands behind his back and telling him he was under arrest.
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 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
As she pulled up closer to the vehicle, she said she saw men handcuffing a man wearing an orange shirt and white shorts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 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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