handful
- the quantity or amount that the hand can hold: a handful of coins.
- a small amount, number, or quantity: a handful of men.
- Informal. a person or thing that is as much as one can manage or control: The baby's tantrums made him a handful.
Origin of handful
Usage note
Examples from the Web for handful
Contemporary Examples of handful
Weiss is likely to get confirmed even as Warren and a handful of other progressive Democrats vote no.
Rather than downing a handful of pills, I planned to take my life by opening a vein in each wrist.
Knight lived down the street from Scalise, and had met him a handful of times at Republican Party events.
With only a handful of great directors between the two videos, Fourgrounds can keep this going for years.
Still, a handful of centuries-old establishments have survived and housed some pretty phenomenal history.
Historical Examples of handful
He compares it to little things, to a tiny seed, to a handful of leaven, to a pearl.
De ProfundisOscar Wilde
Now, every man who was a handful or two short of his crop began to look at us doubtfully.
The Trail BookMary Austin
Yates caught up a handful of sand, and flung it lightly against the pane.
In the Midst of AlarmsRobert Barr
He stooped, thinking he had caught it, but took up only a handful of soapy foam.
The DreamEmile Zola
Put them into the soup, add a handful of chopped parsley, and let them boil.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various BranchesEliza Leslie
handful
- the amount or number that can be held in the hand
- a small number or quantity
- informal a person or thing difficult to manage or control