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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What do any of these throwaway lines actually illustrate about Homelander’s project of using the entertainment industry to sell his traditionalist vision of America?—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
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The Oakland Raiders had a throwaway 12th-round pick in the 1977 draft, and then-coach John Madden grew frustrated hearing his personnel executives contemplate using it on a basketball player or track guy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Viewers got to watch 24 castaways—four of whom came from previous seasons of Australian Survivor, three of whom have appeared on other reality TV shows, and 17 brand-new contestants—live on emote islands, compete in challenges, and vote each other off the show.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
28 Apr. 2026
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Carving out a little lane of their own is ØWay, a supergroup of castaways big enough to fill every position on a baseball field.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Heizer specifically engineered it so that future humans, scavenging for scrap in a postapocalyptic scenario, would be forced to turn back from his monument empty-handed.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
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Some fruit trees, like peaches and cherries, grow easily from kitchen scraps with minimal effort and patience.—
Rachel Silva,
Martha Stewart,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hand-me-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand-me-down. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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