handful

American  

[hand-fool] / ˈhænd fʊl /

noun

handfuls plural

1. the quantity or amount that the hand can hold.

   a handful of coins.

2. a small amount, number, or quantity.

   a handful of men.

3. Informal. a person or thing that is as much as one can manage or control.

   The baby's tantrums made him a handful.

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handful British  

/ ˈhændfʊl /

noun

1. the amount or number that can be held in the hand

2. a small number or quantity

3. informal a person or thing difficult to manage or control

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Spelling

See -ful.

Etymology

Origin of handful

before 900; Middle English, Old English. See hand, -ful

Explanation

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.

Example Sentences

Several exchange-traded funds have also attracted investors’ attention, especially the handful that offer exposure to SpaceX.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

I’ve walked from Los Feliz to the beach a handful of times.

From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2026

Given India’s size, he expects the market to consolidate into a handful of regional leaders.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

"Verhoeven is going to be a handful but unfortunately for him he's fighting one of the best to ever do it. So I can't see anything else other than an Usyk victory."

From BBC • May 23, 2026

He grabbed a handful of soapwort leaves, mashed them in water, and washed off the last of the wolverine dung.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver