handful

UK: /ˈhændfʊl/ US: /ˈhændfʊl/ ,(hand′fŏŏl)

Inflections of 'handful' (n): npl: handfuls

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

hand•ful /ˈhændfʊl/   n. [countable] , pl. -fuls. 

1. the quantity or amount that the hand can hold:
   a handful of sand.
2. a small quantity:
   [singular* a + ~ + of] a handful of demonstrators.
3. Informal Terms a person or thing that is as much as one can control:
   [singular] Those children are a handful.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hand•ful  (hand′fŏŏl), n., pl. -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 Terms a person or thing that is as much as one can manage or control:
   The baby's tantrums made him a handful.

• Middle English, Old English. See hand, -ful bef. 900

Usage

See -ful. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

handful / ˈhændfʊl/ noun ( -fuls)

1. the amount or number that can be held in the hand
2. a small number or quantity
3. a person or thing difficult to manage or control