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
Hermès is one of a handful of brands that consistently goes off-book from the classic application of traditional crafts like enameling, miniature painting, marketry and engraving, using the watch dial as a canvas for all manner of designs.
—
Carol Besler, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2024
Mariah Carey's Holiday Bar: New Orleans is just one of a handful of cities getting a pop-up from the Queen of Christmas.
—Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
Lutnick also pushed into real estate, buying a handful of firms, then rolling them up into Newmark, which finished a spinoff from BGC in 2018.
—Dan Alexander, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
The 45-year-old even headed home to Sin City to perform a handful of shows as part of his Human Rebellion Residency at the Encore Theater in August.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for handful 
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Carol Besler, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2024
Mariah Carey's Holiday Bar: New Orleans is just one of a handful of cities getting a pop-up from the Queen of Christmas.
—Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
Lutnick also pushed into real estate, buying a handful of firms, then rolling them up into Newmark, which finished a spinoff from BGC in 2018.
—Dan Alexander, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
The 45-year-old even headed home to Sin City to perform a handful of shows as part of his Human Rebellion Residency at the Encore Theater in August.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 20 Nov. 2024
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 1 Dec. 2024.
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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