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handful

/ˌhæn(d)ˈfʊl/
/ˈhændfʊl/
IPA guide

Other forms: handfuls

A handful is just a little of something, or the amount you can hold in your hand. It can be a literal handful, like a handful of popcorn, or it can mean just a few, like a handful of trucks.

You might find yourself eating handfuls of raspberries when you're supposed to be picking them to make jam. Another meaning of handful is "just a few," as in "There are only a handful of dogs at the dog park this morning." And a third way to use this word is to mean "incredibly difficult to handle." If your mom says, "You were a handful when you were a toddler," she means you were not easy.

Definitions of handful
  1. noun
    the quantity that can be held in the hand
    synonyms: fistful
    see moresee less
    type of:
    containerful
    the quantity that a container will hold
  2. noun
    a small number or amount
    “only a handful of responses were received”
    synonyms: smattering
    see moresee less
    type of:
    small indefinite amount, small indefinite quantity
    an indefinite quantity that is below average size or magnitude
Pronunciation
US
/ˌhæn(d)ˈfʊl/
UK
/ˈhændfʊl/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘handful'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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