as in secondhand
owned or used by someone after it had been owned or used by someone else
—used especially of clothing
He was wearing an old, hand-me-down jacket.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of hand-me-down
Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
Recently, my friend told me that her best friend was offended that she wasn’t given these hand-me-downs instead of me.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
Sure to last for years and years, this is the ultimate hand-me-down.
—Toby Rose, Parents, 24 Oct. 2024
The brand has been a favorite PJ brand among parents for decades because of its incredible durable material, elevated and classic designs, and multiple hand-me-down potential (seriously these clothes can withstand multiple kids).
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hand-me-down 
Adjective
Her queen-size bed is a hand-me-down from a friend.
—Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
Recently, my friend told me that her best friend was offended that she wasn’t given these hand-me-downs instead of me.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
Sure to last for years and years, this is the ultimate hand-me-down.
—Toby Rose, Parents, 24 Oct. 2024
The brand has been a favorite PJ brand among parents for decades because of its incredible durable material, elevated and classic designs, and multiple hand-me-down potential (seriously these clothes can withstand multiple kids).
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hand-me-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-me-down
Adjective
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Elsewhere, Reformation have lent into initiatives to engage customers on the environmental impact of clothing, including a collaboration with Poshmark to buy and sell secondhand garments.Amy Nguyen, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
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The secondhand market is maintaining its momentum going into the new year.Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
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But unlike the Super Heavy-Starship, the SLS is a throwaway, expendable booster expected to cost some $1.4 billion for each of its first four moon missions.William Harwood, CBS News, 4 Dec. 2024
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In addition, The RealReal will donate $25,000 to benefit Conservation International, highlighting how the re-sale of high-quality fashion can reduce the environmental impact of the throwaway culture of fast fashion.Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
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After June has taken off with one of her newsboys, Rose, grasping at any scrap of opportunity, forces Louise, who has so far been awkward and reticent, into stripping.Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2024
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Bread This is where scraps of bread or days-old bread come in handy.Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 20 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near hand-me-down
Cite this Entry
“Hand-me-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand-me-down. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.
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