handstand

American  

[hand-stand] / ˈhændˌstænd /

noun

1. an act or instance of supporting the body in a vertical position by balancing on the palms of the hands.

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verb (used without object)

handstood, handstanding

1. to perform a handstand.

handstand British  

/ ˈhændˌstænd /

noun

1. the act or instance of supporting the body on the hands alone in an upside down position

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Etymology

Origin of handstand

First recorded in 1895–1900; hand + stand

Explanation

When a gymnast supports her body's weight on her hands, with her legs straight up in the air, she does a handstand. It takes a great sense of balance to hold a handstand very long. You'll learn how to do a handstand in a gymnastics class, eventually even doing handstands on a balance beam or vault horse. Some yoga instructors teach handstands, and acrobatic circus performers do many varieties of the handstand. There are even dives that require a diver to start from a handstand on the diving board before plunging into the pool.

Example Sentences

At the O2, that pain seemed a distant memory, as he careened around the U-shaped stage on roller skates, pulling off a flawless moonwalk, and even freeze-framing in a handstand.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2025

One routine later, senior Emma Malabuyo also fell, overextending her first handstand and dropping from the low bar.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 4, 2025

"The males will do a handstand and urinate. It's a way of competing with other males."

From National Geographic • Sep. 21, 2023

Hop up toward a handstand, as long as you don’t mind if your floor moves, too.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 24, 2023

A handstand requires strength in the arms to hold yourself up, strength in the torso to hold yourself steady, and strength in the hips to hold your legs still.

From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge