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.
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of hand-me-down
John Bacon, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
Many would say to just call Mama when all else fails, but if that’s not an option, see if this hand-me-down advice can help get you back on track—one sanity-saving load at a time.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2024
Both my first and middle names were hand-me-downs, the monikers of my parents' good friends.
—April Wallace, arkansasonline.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Munk was bullied mercilessly in elementary school for wearing hand-me-down clothing and shoes.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hand-me-down 
Adjective
Local Facebook groups, previously filled with weekend activity recommendations and hand-me-down clothes offerings, are now swamped with moms ready to go to great lengths to help one another − even while in dire need themselves.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
Many would say to just call Mama when all else fails, but if that’s not an option, see if this hand-me-down advice can help get you back on track—one sanity-saving load at a time.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2024
Both my first and middle names were hand-me-downs, the monikers of my parents' good friends.
—April Wallace, arkansasonline.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Munk was bullied mercilessly in elementary school for wearing hand-me-down clothing and shoes.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hand-me-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-me-down
Adjective
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The biggest trends of 2024 are on secondhand shoppers’ holiday shopping lists, according to Poshmark.Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 21 Nov. 2024
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Since there aren’t many survivors like Hart, Corrino has to rely on secondhand stories that pin the casualties on Fremen.Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 18 Nov. 2024
Noun
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If you're headed to your first white elephant gift exchange, here's a quick explainer on what's about to happen.Nena Farrell, WIRED, 4 Nov. 2024
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This popular monogram mug is nearly half off and makes a great white elephant git, while this slouchy V-neck is a perfect present for your mom or sister.Jenifer Calle, Glamour, 21 Oct. 2024
Noun
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UConn finally pressured McCord into a couple of throwaways and forced Syracuse to punt, but the Huskies couldn’t get in rhythm on offense.Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 23 Nov. 2024
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On one rep, Wingo got low, shed Giants’ guard Jalen Mayfield, got upfield in a hurry, chased QB Tommy Devito and forced a throwaway.Colton Pouncy, The Athletic, 9 Aug. 2024
Noun
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The bin dehydrates and grinds food scraps, producing something that looks more or less like dirt.Carina Finn, Bon Appétit, 27 Nov. 2024
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Inspired to make use of scraps otherwise seen as waste, Bansal and Sharma began collaborating with artisans in the area to create sculptural tables, lamps, and chairs, balancing their artistic vision with artisanal processes derived from generational knowledge.Kristen de La Vallière, Architectural Digest, 25 Nov. 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 3 Dec. 2024.
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