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
Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
For instance, our toddler is growing up with more cashmere than most adults, since her hand-me-downs were made by her great-grandmother, Celsa, the founder of Scaglione.
—Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 11 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for hand-me-down
Adjective
Without their belongings, the family is relying on neighbors and relatives this season, borrowing Christmas trees, hand-me-down dishes, and even pie plates.
—Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
For instance, our toddler is growing up with more cashmere than most adults, since her hand-me-downs were made by her great-grandmother, Celsa, the founder of Scaglione.
—Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 11 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for hand-me-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-me-down
Adjective
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For Barton, that moment became both a style foundation and a lesson in how secondhand clothing could create individuality in a way mass retail often could not.—
J.M. Banks
March 16,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
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The campaign encourages consumers to allow their wardrobes to evolve through more qualitative and timeless secondhand options rather than firsthand overconsumption.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The scene is almost a throwaway in terms of the narrative.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
15 Apr. 2026
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Audiences needn’t know the specifics of the film’s story — or the onslaught of cultural throwaway jokes — to get the narrative gist within the madness.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Adapted for television by Adolescence co-creator, Emmy winner Jack Thorne, in Lord of the Flies, innocence descends into savagery when a group of English schoolboys becomes desert island castaways.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
6 Apr. 2026
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Each group would later attend a tribal council and vote out the eighth, ninth, and tenth castaways.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Think of it like a blender—feed scraps in slowly to avoid overwhelming the system.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
12 Apr. 2026
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Reusing kitchen scraps in your garden is a win-win for your plants, the environment, and your budget.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hand-me-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand-me-down. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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