handful

[ hand-fool ]

noun

, plural hand·fuls.

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.

handful

/ 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

Spelling Note

See -ful.

Word History and Origins

Origin of handful¹

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

Example Sentences

Freeman’s idea for greater technological transparency started with a handful of waterproof pages he posted around his Alabama neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times

But if Alisson stays injury-free for the rest of the season, Kelleher is likely to have just a handful of Carabao Cup and FA Cup games.

From BBC

Created by Joshua Zetumer, who adapts Patrick Radden Keefe‘s multiple award-winning 2018 nonfiction book, subtitled “A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland,” it focuses instead on a handful of characters, their activities and relationships.

From Los Angeles Times

LeBron James eased his way into the season, ceding shots to Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves, committing to JJ Redick’s style and letting his teammates establish himself in the first handful of games in his 21st season.

From Los Angeles Times

Her comments come as the government reveals plans to merge the UK's local government pension scheme, a group of funds which together manage £354bn in investments, into a handful of "pension megafunds".

From BBC