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.

---

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

---

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

He said his next project would be a "handstand cheat device".

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2025

Sophomore Sydney Barros pumped her fist on the graduate student’s final handstand and McDonald jumped up and down as Esparza stuck her dismount.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 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

He pushes up into the handstand with his usual effortless grace.

From "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon