What Does the 🙌 Hands Up Emoji Mean?

Co-authored by Dan Hickey Reviewed by Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones

Last Updated: September 12, 2024 Fact Checked

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Curious about the 🙌 (hands up) emoji? Also called the raising hands emoji, this versatile symbol has a variety of meanings depending on the context of the message. Whether you want to send someone a double-High 5 or praise the Lord, we’ve got you covered. Read on to discover all the meanings of the 🙌 (hands up) emoji and how you can use it in your own texts and posts.

Hands Up Emoji Meaning

The 🙌 (hands up) emoji typically means there's something to celebrate! Texters use this emoji when they're excited or proud about something. It usually indicates that they want the person they're texting to share in their pride and excitement as well.

Section 1 of 3:

🙌 (Hands Up) Emoji Meanings

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The 🙌 (hands up) emoji means you’re celebrating something. Throw your hands up because it’s time to party! The 🙌 emoji symbolizes good times and celebrations. It shows up when someone’s excited or expressing pride and joy in something.^{[1]
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- “I’m going to Harvard! 🙌”
- “Who’s turning up tonight!? 🙌”
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🙌 can also mean you’re grateful. Someone can use 🙌 to say that they’re thankful or relieved that something good happened. Some people use it in a religious sense (“Praise be to God! 🙌”) and some use it secularly (“Phew! 🙌”)—it just depends on the context.^{[2]
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- “Hallelujah, I passed the exam! 🙌”
- “Feeling grateful today 🙌”
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The 🙌 emoji tells people you’re optimistic. It’s common to see the 🙌 emoji when people are talking about their dreams and aspirations. It symbolizes that you’re keeping the faith and feel like good things are coming your way.
- “Manifesting an awesome New Year 🙌”
- “Keep up the grind and you’ll get rewarded, baby! 🙌”
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🙌 can be a double High 5. The 🙌 emoji means “Give me 10!” (holding up both hands and slapping palms with another person) in a sports or team context. It pops up a lot among teammates, collaborators, or between people that just want to hype each other up.^{[3]
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- “Give me 10, man! 🙌”
- “Good job team! Put ‘em up! 🙌”
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The 🙌 emoji shows you agree whole-heartedly. The 🙌 emoji appears a lot in social media comments when someone strongly agrees with an opinion shared in someone’s post. Imagine someone in a crowd yelling “Yaas!” or “Preach!”^{[4]
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- “You said it sister 🙌”
- “🙌 Ain't that the truth!!”
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The 🙌 emoji also signals that you’re surprised. Didn’t see that coming! Picture someone walking into a surprise party—the 🙌 emoji mimics them throwing up their hands in shock (in the good way). It also shows up in surprise announcements, like a band posting their tour dates or a couple revealing that they’re pregnant.
- “Surprise! 🙌 I’m gonna make it home for the holidays after all!”
- “🙌 We’re engaged! ❤️”

Section 2 of 3:

How to Use the 🙌 (Hands Up) Emoji

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Add a 🙌 to your post to say "Time to celebrate!" Use 🙌 when you want to ramp up the energy in a conversation or you’re talking about fun plans happening later. It works for casual nights out or fancy events—whatever you feel like celebrating!
- “It’s finally the weekend 🙌”
- Who’s going to Kayla’s graduation party!? 🙌”
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Send the 🙌 emoji to tell someone "I’m so proud of you!" Use the 🙌 emoji to show how proud you are of someone (or yourself!). Attach it to a compliment or a congratulatory message. You can also just say who and what it is you’re proud of.
- “So proud of my daughter winning her first fencing tournament! 🙌”
- “🙌 Congrats on your engagement!!”
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Use 🙌 to yell "Surprise!" Treating someone to an unexpected party or gift? Include the 🙌 emoji to add a little flair to your message. You can also use it to describe a time when you were surprised or something pleasantly unexpected happened to you.
- “Guess what!? I just got us tickets to see Marina next week! 🙌”
- “Here’s some pics from Brian’s surprise party 🙌 He had no idea! 🤣”
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Text someone a 🙌 emoji to say "Give me 10!" Send a virtual double-High 5 to someone to congratulate them or add some encouraging energy to your message. Give 10 to anyone, especially teammates or partners in something competitive like sports or video games.
- “We did it!! 🙌”
- “Nice job on the soccer field today!” 🙌”
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Shout "Hallelujah!" with a 🙌 emoji. Express your gratitude or relief when something goes your way. Use 🙌 by itself as a standalone “Thank God!” or pair it with a sentence explaining what happened or what you’re thankful for.
- “Aced my last college exam of senior year! 🙌”
- “I love when my grandchildren come to visit 🙌”
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Let your followers know "Good things are coming" with a 🙌 emoji. Got a feeling that your hard work is going to pay off soon? Use the 🙌 emoji to illustrate your optimism or reflect on how far you’ve come.
- “Good things come to those who hustle 🙌 Keep up the good work!”
- “One year ago I was broke. Today I own my own business 🙌”
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Yell "That’s what I’m saying!" with the 🙌 emoji. Show your strong support of what somebody said. You can use a few 🙌 emojis by themselves or pair one with an exclamation of agreement.
- “🙌 🙌 🙌”
- “YES 🙌”

Section 3 of 3:

🙌 (Hands Up) Emoji Substitutes

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Need to shake things up? There are a ton of different emojis you can use to illustrate your messages and make your point. Try some of these in place of the 🙌 emoji—variety is the spice of life, after all!
- 🥂 or 🎉 = Time to celebrate (“Cheers!” or “Party time!”)
- 🙏 = Praying or thankful
- ✋ = High 5
- 😮 = Surprised Face
- 👍 = Thumbs Up (“I agree!”)