handful

American  

[hand-fool] / ˈhænd fʊl /

noun

plural

handfuls

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

Example Sentences

Whether or not the AI industry meets its targets for growth, businesses both established and emerging will continue to seek optical fiber of the caliber coming from Corning and a handful of global competitors.

From The Wall Street Journal

A handful of powerful agencies run the show, which means they have to bet on an aspiring star for them to succeed in Korea.

From BBC

His longtime current set list features mostly newish songs and only a handful of oldies, none of which are the very greatest hits.

From The Wall Street Journal

These “low-vol” funds don’t have a third of their assets in a handful of huge tech companies, the way S&P 500 index funds do.

From The Wall Street Journal

A woman walked up with a handful of yellow tulips.

From Los Angeles Times