Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

well-thumbed

British  

adjective

  1. (well thumbed when postpositive) (of a copy of a book) having the pages marked from frequent turning

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The latest research, however, suggests they are more like well-thumbed library books that wear and change a little bit every time they’re pulled off the shelf.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 27, 2025

His walls are lined with shelves of well-thumbed books, from his childhood comic collection to reference works on art and anthropology, Victoriana and zoology.

From BBC Apr. 7, 2024

A charge against you isn't merely false, it's totally false or completely bogus, or some such, from the liar's well-thumbed thesaurus.

From Salon May 6, 2023

“Her books will be well-thumbed for as long as there are cooks who want to cook well for their family, their friends and for themselves,” Victor said.

From Washington Post Oct. 10, 2022

It was well-thumbed, some of the pages dog-eared.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training