noun
fistful
FIHST-fuul
noun
1
The amount of something that fits in one closed hand.
"He grabbed a fistful of sand and let it run through his fingers."
"She handed over a fistful of coins."
2
A small quantity of something.
"Only a fistful of supporters showed up to the rally."
How to Use Fistful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAs much as one hand can grab and hold — or, loosely, just a small amount.
Common pairings
a fistful of cash
a fistful of dollars
a fistful of dirt
Word Forms
fistfuls plural, fistsful plural
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He grabbed a _____ of sand and let it run through his fingers.
Etymology
From "fist" plus the suffix "-ful," meaning "an amount that fills."