Hand-me-down — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈhan(d)-mē-ˌdau̇n/

Meaning & Definition of Hand-me-down

Hand-me-down (adjective)

  1. put in use by one person or group after being used, discarded, or handed down by another
  2. ready-made and usually cheap and shoddy

Hand-me-down (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. owned or used by someone after it had been owned or used by someone else

    "He was wearing an old, hand-me-down jacket."

    similar: pre-owned, reach-me-down (chiefly British), secondhand, old, worn, assumed, borrowed
    opposite: brand-new, new, unused, bespoke, custom, customized, custom-made, tailored, tailor-made

Hand-me-down (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in white elephant

    similar: white elephant, castaway, throwaway, rubbish, scrap, trash, waste, cull, discard, reject, rejection, second

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hand-me-down

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hand-me-down:

Chiefly British: reach-me-down
pre-owned, secondhand, old, worn, assumed, borrowed, white elephant, castaway, throwaway, rubbish, scrap, trash, waste, cull, discard, reject, rejection, second

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Hand-me-down

Words with the opposite meaning of Hand-me-down:

brand-new, new, unused, bespoke, custom, customized, custom-made, tailored, tailor-made

Word Forms of Hand-me-down

Derived words: hand-me-down (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Hand-me-down

First known use: 1826

Frequently Asked Questions about Hand-me-down

What does "Hand-me-down" mean?

"Hand-me-down" means put in use by one person or group after being used, discarded, or handed down by another. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: put in use by one person or group after being used, discarded, or handed down by another. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Hand-me-down"?

Other words for "Hand-me-down" include pre-owned, reach-me-down, secondhand, old, worn, assumed, borrowed and white elephant. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hand-me-down" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hand-me-down"?

There are 19 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hand-me-down". Common alternatives include pre-owned, reach-me-down, secondhand, old, worn, assumed, borrowed, white elephant, castaway and throwaway.

What is the opposite of "Hand-me-down"?

Antonyms of "Hand-me-down" include brand-new, new, unused, bespoke, custom, customized, custom-made and tailored.

How do you use "Hand-me-down" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hand-me-down" in a sentence: "He was wearing an old, hand-me-down jacket.".

Is "Hand-me-down" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hand-me-down" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Hand-me-down"?

"Hand-me-down" is pronounced /ˈhan(d)-mē-ˌdau̇n/.

What is the origin of the word "Hand-me-down"?

First known use: 1826.