as in veteran
a person with long experience in a specified area
with 25 years on the job, Vinnie was the old hand everyone went to with their problems
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Recent Examples of old hand
The sensation of a 3-year-old hand in mine is the physical embodiment of living happily ever after.
—
Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2026
On the television side, however, the winning series for excellence in period, sci-fi/fantasy, and contemporary costumes were all old hands.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 12 Feb. 2026
For Conan O’Brien, an old hand whose podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend is a big player in the field, witty banter and appropriately leading queries come naturally; O’Brien also has plenty of pals on, but has a knack for turning their back-and-forth into a deeper examination of their friendship.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
The Osefo family is an old hand at meeting the pressure of high expectations and not simply because of the recent criminal allegations of insurance fraud.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for old hand
Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2026
On the television side, however, the winning series for excellence in period, sci-fi/fantasy, and contemporary costumes were all old hands.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 12 Feb. 2026
For Conan O’Brien, an old hand whose podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend is a big player in the field, witty banter and appropriately leading queries come naturally; O’Brien also has plenty of pals on, but has a knack for turning their back-and-forth into a deeper examination of their friendship.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
The Osefo family is an old hand at meeting the pressure of high expectations and not simply because of the recent criminal allegations of insurance fraud.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for old hand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for old hand
veteran
Noun
-
Now a member of the Indiana Fever, the veteran big still has love for the Golden State organization.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
CreatiVets, the nonprofit behind the event, works with veterans struggling with trauma and the difficult transition to civilian life by pairing them with professional songwriters and artists.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Old hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old%20hand. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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