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
Synonyms
Examples of handful in a Sentence
The children collected seashells by the handful.
Our dog is a real handful.
Recent Examples on the Web
Their list of alumnae dwarfs that of many professional clubs: Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Heather O’Reilly, Tobin Heath, Lucy Bronze, Crystal Dunn, Alessia Russo and Emily Fox, to name just a handful.
—
Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 8 Feb. 2025
Bilson’s quippy Summer Roberts was originally written into only a handful of episodes.
—Sezin Devi Koehler, EW.com, 8 Feb. 2025
Our luxurious experience was markedly different from that of the handful of people who, despite the incredibly challenging climate southwestern Tasmania is known for, once managed to eke out a living in this region.
—Justin Meneguzzi, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2025
More than 80 percent of the donations stemmed from just a handful of owners.
—Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for handful 
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Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 8 Feb. 2025
Bilson’s quippy Summer Roberts was originally written into only a handful of episodes.
—Sezin Devi Koehler, EW.com, 8 Feb. 2025
Our luxurious experience was markedly different from that of the handful of people who, despite the incredibly challenging climate southwestern Tasmania is known for, once managed to eke out a living in this region.
—Justin Meneguzzi, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2025
More than 80 percent of the donations stemmed from just a handful of owners.
—Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for handful
Dictionary Entries Near handful
Cite this Entry
“Handful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handful. Accessed 13 Feb. 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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