handful
noun
hand·ful
ˈhan(d)-ˌfu̇l 
plural handfuls
ˈhan(d)-ˌfu̇lz
also handsful
ˈhan(d)z-ˌfu̇l
also handsful
ˈhan(d)z-ˌfu̇l
1
: as much or as many as the hand will grasp
2
: a small quantity or number
a handful of people
3
: as much as one can manage
the kids are quite a handful
Examples of handful in a Sentence
The children collected seashells by the handful.
Our dog is a real handful.
Recent Examples on the Web
Packing just a handful of in-flight travel accessories, like a customizable neck pillow or a light-blocking eye mask, can help make the aisle or middle seat much more comfortable.
—
Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2025
Similar to the Kansas game, Mizzou caught a handful of breaks in coverage with misfires from the quarterback.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2025
For example, Wang notices that Chinese leadership is dominated by engineers, while America's governing class is the preserve of lawyers — with a few generals and a handful of businessmen in the mix.
—Vincent Ni, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
During the Angels’ losing streak, the offense had been mostly silent, with the exception of a handful of solo or two-run homers.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handful
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Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2025
Similar to the Kansas game, Mizzou caught a handful of breaks in coverage with misfires from the quarterback.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2025
For example, Wang notices that Chinese leadership is dominated by engineers, while America's governing class is the preserve of lawyers — with a few generals and a handful of businessmen in the mix.
—Vincent Ni, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
During the Angels’ losing streak, the offense had been mostly silent, with the exception of a handful of solo or two-run homers.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handful
Cite this Entry
“Handful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handful. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
handful
noun
hand·ful
ˈhan(d)-ˌfu̇l
plural handfuls
-ˌfu̇lz
also handsful
ˈhan(d)z-ˌfu̇l
also handsful
ˈhan(d)z-ˌfu̇l
1
: as much or as many as the hand will grasp
a handful of jelly beans
2
: a small quantity or number
a handful of people
3
: as much as one can control or manage
the three babies are quite a handful
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