handful

noun

hand·​ful ˈhan(d)-ˌfu̇l 

plural handfuls ˈhan(d)-ˌfu̇lz  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 of handful

• few
• couple

Examples of handful in a Sentence

The children collected seashells by the handful.

Our dog is a real handful.

Recent Examples on the Web

Esquire is one of only a handful of theaters housing the Grand Theatre projector that can roll through the film. — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026

Lambda Legal, an LGBTQ legal advocacy organization, sued on behalf of a handful of students, claiming the measure was unconstitutional and asking a judge to block it. — Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 18 July 2026

Over time, use should shift away from the handful of manipulative giants who now dominate our kids’ free time. — Ravi Iyer, Time, 18 July 2026

For the impatient sneaker enthusiasts out there, a handful of pairs from Saturday’s Brooklyn event have already found their way onto eBay with asking prices beginning at $800. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 18 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for handful

• brimful
• mirthful
• mouthful
• roomful
• spoonful
• full
• pull
• wool

Kids Definition

handful

noun

hand·​ful ˈhan(d)-ˌfu̇l 

plural handfuls -ˌfu̇lz  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