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
Another old hand, Rashid, took all three South African wickets to avoid total humiliation.
—
Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Two newcomers and an old hand will fill three open seats on the seven-member board that oversees the multibillion-dollar Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform plan, as the program enters its fourth year of implementation.
—William J. Ford, Baltimore Sun, 21 Aug. 2025
New volunteers join old hands Like Barrett, Jesse Cupp is new to public protest.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
At a tournament without Cristiano Ronaldo or Lamine Yamal, and with Kylian Mbappé’s availability for Real Madrid in question, the old hand of Messi was needed for a competition in dire need of a spark.
—Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for old hand
Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Two newcomers and an old hand will fill three open seats on the seven-member board that oversees the multibillion-dollar Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform plan, as the program enters its fourth year of implementation.
—William J. Ford, Baltimore Sun, 21 Aug. 2025
New volunteers join old hands Like Barrett, Jesse Cupp is new to public protest.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
At a tournament without Cristiano Ronaldo or Lamine Yamal, and with Kylian Mbappé’s availability for Real Madrid in question, the old hand of Messi was needed for a competition in dire need of a spark.
—Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for old hand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for old hand
veteran
Noun
-
Stafford, a 17-year veteran, won the award by finishing ahead of New England quarterback Drake Maye in balloting by a panel of 50 journalists who regularly cover the NFL.—
Gary Klein,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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The Seahawks ranked third in total pressures and seventh in sacks this season, thanks to a front seven that includes a rotating set of outside linebackers in veterans DeMarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu and younger pass rushers Derick Hall and Boye Mafe.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Old hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old%20hand. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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