HOW TO PRONOUNCE
handful
/ˈhændˌfʊl/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
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What does handful mean?
noun
- The amount that a hand will grasp or contain.
- A small number, usually approximately five.
- A group or number of things; a bunch.
More meanings (3)
noun
- (informal) Something which can only be managed with difficulty.
- (slang) A five-year prison sentence.
- (obsolete) A hand's breadth; four inches.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈhændˌfʊl/
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
He came up to the fence and extended a handful of strawberries, for his gardening was as generous as it was enthusiastic.
From the sheaf last finished she draws a handful of ears, patting their tips with her left palm to bring them even.
More book examples (3)
I shook my big handful of lilies in his face and shouted, “Here are the true saints, ancient and Latter-Day, enduring forever!”
You will find the community heart in the precious handful who believe that the service of God is the service of man.
I had in my pocket two or three bunches of raisins, so I gave him a handful of them for his father.