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

To avoid Sierra Nevada Red Fox habitat, California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife created a handful of no-fly zones in the area. —Brent Rose, Outside, 28 Feb. 2026

Democrats and a handful of Republicans in the House and Senate are pushing to consider war powers resolutions addressing Iran next week. —Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026

Earlier this month, the judge ordered the release of a handful of detainees that both sides had agreed were violations of the consent decree. —Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026

While more than one-third of that backlog is now being released, a handful of states — including California, Illinois, Minnesota and Colorado — are being left out, raising new concerns that the administration is playing politics with critical emergency assistance, the sources said. —Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for handful

• brimful
• 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