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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of hand-me-down
John Bacon, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
Many would say to just call Mama when all else fails, but if that’s not an option, see if this hand-me-down advice can help get you back on track—one sanity-saving load at a time.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2024
Both my first and middle names were hand-me-downs, the monikers of my parents' good friends.
—April Wallace, arkansasonline.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Munk was bullied mercilessly in elementary school for wearing hand-me-down clothing and shoes.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hand-me-down 
Adjective
Local Facebook groups, previously filled with weekend activity recommendations and hand-me-down clothes offerings, are now swamped with moms ready to go to great lengths to help one another − even while in dire need themselves.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
Many would say to just call Mama when all else fails, but if that’s not an option, see if this hand-me-down advice can help get you back on track—one sanity-saving load at a time.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2024
Both my first and middle names were hand-me-downs, the monikers of my parents' good friends.
—April Wallace, arkansasonline.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Munk was bullied mercilessly in elementary school for wearing hand-me-down clothing and shoes.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hand-me-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-me-down
Adjective
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Meanwhile, the $45 billion secondhand luxury market continues its relentless rise, growing twice as fast as the personal luxury market, according to Bain & Co.Matteo Atti, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
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Jessica Klein October 30, 2024 7:17 AM EDT With roughly 4.5 million pre-worn clothing items in its inventory, the online shop ThredUp is employing AI to help customers take the guesswork out of secondhand shopping.Jessica Klein, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
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This popular monogram mug is nearly half off and makes a great white elephant git, while this slouchy V-neck is a perfect present for your mom or sister.Jenifer Calle, Glamour, 21 Oct. 2024
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Similar to white elephant and Dirty Santa gift exchanges, Yankee swaps typically have a low price cap.Malia Griggs, Glamour, 11 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Leitch produced the film, which was a passable Netflix throwaway hampered by dopey B-movie conventions.Will Leitch, Vulture, 24 June 2024
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There’s a throwaway line in the book about how these faux pas that happen on social media are the consequence of the difference between what a human and what a computer considers a large number.Jason Parham, WIRED, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Before those two scraps, UFC middleweight contender Bo Nickal looks to continue his charge up the rankings against Paul Craig.Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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But after the feast is done, piles of food scraps and uneaten leftovers find their way into the garbage.London Gibson, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near hand-me-down
Cite this Entry
“Hand-me-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand-me-down. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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