handsome

UK: /ˈhænsəm/ US: /ˈhænsəm/ ,(han′səm)

Inflections of 'handsome' (adj):

handsomer

adj comparative

handsomest

adj superlative

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

hand•some /ˈhænsəm/   adj., -som•er, -som•est. 

1. having an attractive appearance;
   good-looking:
   a handsome boy; a handsome couple.
2. having pleasing physical characteristics:
   a handsome house.
3. considerable in amount:
   [usually before a noun] a handsome salary.

hand•some•ly, adv. 
hand•some•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hand•some  (han′səm), adj., -som•er, -som•est. 

1. having an attractive, well-proportioned, and imposing appearance suggestive of health and strength;
   good-looking:
   a handsome man; a handsome woman.
2. having pleasing proportions, relationships, or arrangements, as of shapes, forms, or colors;
   attractive:
   a handsome house; a handsome interior.
3. exhibiting skill, taste, and refinement;
   well-made:
   a handsome story; handsome furniture.
4. considerable, ample, or liberal in amount:
   a handsome fortune.
5. gracious;
   generous;
   flattering:
   a handsome compliment; a handsome recommendation.
6. adroit and appealing;
   graceful:
   a handsome speech.

• 1350–1400; Middle English handsom easy to handle (see hand, -some¹); cognate with Dutch handzaam tractable

hand′some•ish, adj. 
hand′some•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See beautiful. 
• 4. large, generous, munificent.

Antonyms

• 1. ugly.
• 4, 5. small, miserly.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

handsome / ˈhændsəm/ adjective

1. (of a man) good-looking, esp in having regular, pleasing, and well-defined features
2. (of a woman) fine-looking in a dignified way
3. well-proportioned, stately, or comely: a handsome room
4. liberal or ample: a handsome allowance
5. gracious or generous: a handsome action

Etymology: 15th Century: handsom easily handled; compare Dutch handzaam; see hand, -some¹

ˈhandsomely adverb

ˈhandsomeness noun