handful

noun

hand·​ful ˈhan(d)-ˌfu̇l How to pronounce handful (audio)
plural handfuls ˈhan(d)-ˌfu̇lz How to pronounce handful (audio) also handsful ˈhan(d)z-ˌfu̇l How to pronounce handful (audio)
Synonyms of handfulnext
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 of handful

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Examples of handful in a Sentence

The children collected seashells by the handful. Our dog is a real handful.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
However, while most are owned and/or managed by corporate brands, Palazzo Giovanelli stands out as one of a handful that are both family-owned and operated. — Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have uncovered a new processor attack that can bypass defenses in Intel and AMD chips by exploiting a security gap lasting only a handful of instructions. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026 Bostwick said the most recent county cleanups ejected a handful of RVs from Pearblossom in 2022 and Sun Valley and 2023. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 What the gap reveals about the broader market McCann sees that gap as a live snapshot of just how much the S&P 500 now depends on a handful of giant stocks. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for handful

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of handful was before the 12th century

Rhymes for handful

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Browse Nearby Words

hand frame
handful
hand gallop
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Cite this Entry

“Handful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handful. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

handful

noun
hand·​ful ˈhan(d)-ˌfu̇l How to pronounce handful (audio)
plural handfuls -ˌfu̇lz How to pronounce handful (audio) also handsful ˈhan(d)z-ˌfu̇l How to pronounce handful (audio)
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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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