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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Recent Examples of hand-me-down
The Editors, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
The outfit was a hand-me-down from her beloved dog, Sophie, who is no longer with us.
—Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 22 Oct. 2025
The brand has been a favorite among parents for decades because of its durable materials, elevated designs, and major hand-me-down potential.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2025
One was a hand-me-down from my cousin’s husband who was visiting from Virginia and couldn’t fly back with it.
—Katie Jackson, Outside, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hand-me-down
Adjective
Fit a Bow A new bow loses about a third of its value after leaving the shop, so a lot of new archers start with a hand-me-down.
—The Editors, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
The outfit was a hand-me-down from her beloved dog, Sophie, who is no longer with us.
—Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 22 Oct. 2025
The brand has been a favorite among parents for decades because of its durable materials, elevated designs, and major hand-me-down potential.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2025
One was a hand-me-down from my cousin’s husband who was visiting from Virginia and couldn’t fly back with it.
—Katie Jackson, Outside, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hand-me-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-me-down
Adjective
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Experts chalk up the trend to fewer Birkin buyers at auctions — as aspirational luxury consumers feel pressure from inflation and a slowing labor market — and more secondhand Birkins on the market.—
Josephine Rozzelle,
CNBC,
17 Dec. 2025
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And better yet, a quick peruse on secondhand retailers like eBay proves that there are also plenty of fabulous options to uncover.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
16 Dec. 2025
Noun
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To clean candle jars in bulk, preheat an oven to 200°F, place candle jars on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil, let the jars warm for 15 minutes, and pour the heated wax into a throwaway cup while wearing oven mitts.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
31 Jan. 2026
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Many of them are amusing enough to get chuckles and the odd big laugh but a little more wit amongst the throwaway put-downs would have been welcome.—
Richard Kuipers,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Blending this formula with some of the best service in French Polynesia, Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora offers all the elements of a magical castaway experience.—
Jennifer Flowers,
AFAR Media,
30 Jan. 2026
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Being chosen to participate in such a landmark season is a dream and knowing all the castaways that did not make it here is humbling.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Cut with a floured 2 3/4- to 3-inch round or square cutter; re-form scraps as necessary to make six biscuits.—
Holly Riordan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Feb. 2026
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The Italian, now a free agent, is the favourite to be named as the next permanent Tottenham boss according to Betfair, as the team gear up for a relegation scrap over the final months of the season.—
Peter South,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hand-me-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand-me-down. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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