What does handful mean?
A handful is literally an amount that can be held in one hand, such as coins, rice, flowers, or sand. Figuratively, it means a small number of people, things, opportunities, or examples: a project may attract a handful of applicants, or a person may have only a handful of friends. The expression “a handful of” is deliberately approximate and often conveys that the number is small but not precisely known. It can also refer to a modest quantity of money or another substance, as in “a handful of dollars.” The word is common in everyday English, while its older use as a verb—to give someone a handful of something—has an informal flavor. Overall, “handful” is useful because it combines a concrete physical measure with a broad figurative meaning for limited number or quantity.
An amount small enough to be held in one hand, or a small number of people, objects, opportunities, or occurrences.
"The audience consisted of a handful of dedicated fans."
In figurative use, “a handful of” expresses an approximate small number rather than an exact count.
To give someone a handful of something, especially coins or food.
"He handfuled her a few coins."
This use is informal and is less common than the noun.
The standard plural is “handfuls,” with one syllable after the silent l in the final syllable. “Handfulls” is a common misspelling.
"The teacher handed out a few handfuls of seeds."
From a physical measure to a social shorthand, a handful can mean anything from a few coins to only a few people.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of handful
Handful comes from Middle English and is formed from hand, from Old English hand, plus the suffix -ful, meaning “full.” The compound literally refers to as much as can be held in a full hand. The related words handle and handy also derive from the same Old English root, though they developed independently in meaning.
Related word forms
How handful is actually used
The noun is standard in both formal and informal English. The verb is informal and means to give someone a handful of something, especially coins or food. In the sense of a small number, a handful is approximate rather than an exact count.
Easily confused with handful
A handle is the part of an object designed to be gripped, whereas a handful is an amount that can be held in one hand.