old hand

noun

Definition of old handnext
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of old hand Most old hands recall how every briefing session with Biki Oberoi would begin with a detailed reading of every negative review, followed by ways to address the issues raised. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Jan. 2026 For all the negative coverage, aesthetic arguments about climbing styles, the controversies and disasters, Everest continues to be at the heart of so many dreams and ambitions — even for old hands, like Cotter. — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 30 May 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 With Friday’s game teetering in the third quarter at the Moda Center, Spurs rookie Dylan Harper took matters into his 20-year-old hands and helped spark a stunning 120-108 victory that stole the Spurs a 2-1 lead in Western Conference first-round series. — Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for old hand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for old hand
veteran
Noun
  • And a quieter sky genuinely matters to veterans with PTSD, to parents of sensory-sensitive kids, and to every dog that spends the Fourth wedged under a bed.
    — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Condrey is a writer, veteran and formerly homeless resident of San Diego.
    — David Lee Condrey, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2026
Definition of veteran

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old guards
old hand
old hands
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Cite this Entry

“Old hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old%20hand. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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