handful

noun
UK: /ˈhændfʊl/
US: /ˈhændfʊl/

  1. An amount that can be held in one hand

    1. I ate a handful of nuts before dinner so I wasn't too hungry [ ] [ ]
    2. She scooped up a handful of sand and let it trickle through her fingers on the beach [ ] [ ]

  2. A small number or amount

    1. Only a handful of people came to the meeting, it wasn't a success [ ] [ ]
    2. The old farmer planted a handful of seeds in the rich soil of his garden patch [ ] [ ]

  3. A person or animal that is difficult to control

    1. My little brother is a handful when he doesn't get his nap [ ] [ ]
    2. The new puppy proved to be quite a handful, always chewing on everything in sight [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

morsel mouthful sprinkling portion

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "handful" in English means: An amount that can be held in one hand, A small number or amount, A person or animal that is difficult to control.

The phonetic transcription of "handful" is /ˈhændfʊl/ in British English and /ˈhændfʊl/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "handful": morsel, mouthful, sprinkling, portion.

Example usage of "handful": "I ate a handful of nuts before dinner so I wasn't too hungry". More examples on the page.