sign over

sign over — phrasal verb

  • sign overbase form
  • signs over3rd person singular
  • signing over-ing form
  • signed overpast simple

1. to transfer the ownership of property, legal rights, or authority to another per

1.phrasal verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to transfer the ownership of property, legal rights, or authority to another person by putting your signature on an official document — for example, signing a house over to a family member when you move away.

Example

Jiwoo signed her share of the house over to her brother after moving abroad.

separable: signed [sth] over to [sb]

The old farmer signed the land over to his three grandchildren before he passed away.

collocation: sign land/property over

Common collocations
  • sign over a house / property / land
  • sign over a car / vehicle
  • sign over shares / stock
  • sign over rights / ownership / control
  • sign over the deed / title
  • sign over power of attorney
Synonyms
  • transfer

    more general; can be done informally or without paperwork

  • cede

    more formal, often about territory, power, or legal rights

  • convey

    formal legal term specifically for transferring property ownership

Antonyms
  • keep

    to retain ownership rather than give it away

  • retain

    formal opposite; to continue to hold rights or property

Grammar Patterns

sign + noun + over + to + person

sign + over + noun + to + person

Usage Note

Frequently used in legal and financial contexts. The object can go between 'sign' and 'over' (sign the house over) or after 'over' (sign over the house). Unlike ordinary 'give', this verb implies a formal, documented transfer that changes legal ownership.

Common Mistakes

I signed over my car to my friend.' (when meaning a casual, temporary loan).
I signed my car over to my friend at the DMV.
'sign over' means permanent legal transfer, not a short-term lend.
I signed over the document to my boss.' (when meaning just handing a paper over).
I signed over the deed to my boss at the lawyer's office.
'sign over' applies to the rights/property itself, not the physical document.

Synonym discussion

Sense: phrasal verb/1

'Sign over' is the most concrete of these words — it specifically involves a signature on an official document. 'Transfer' is the broadest term and can describe moving anything from money to data, with or without paperwork. 'Cede' is more formal and usually refers to territory, power, or abstract rights (e.g., cede control), not everyday objects like a car. 'Convey' is a narrow legal term used almost exclusively in property law. 'Hand over' is less formal and can describe physically passing an object without any documentation. Compare: 'She signed over the house to her son' (formal, legal) vs. 'She handed over the keys to her son' (informal, physical).

transfer ↗cede ↗convey ↗hand over ↗

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

A phrasal verb formed from the verb 'sign' (meaning to write one's signature, from Latin 'signare' — to mark with a sign) combined with the adverb 'over' (indicating transfer from one person to another). The phrase entered legal English usage to describe the formal transfer of ownership or rights through signature.