What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
palmful
Example
She poured a palmful of oil into the pan. [palmful: noun]
Example
I only need a palmful of sugar for this recipe. [palmful: adjective]
handful
Example
He grabbed a handful of candy from the jar. [handful: noun]
Example
The children were a handful at the party. [handful: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Handful is more commonly used than palmful in everyday language. Handful is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while palmful is less common and is typically used in specific contexts related to the amount of a substance or ingredient.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between palmful and handful?
Both palmful and handful are relatively informal words, but palmful may be slightly more formal due to its association with cooking and measuring ingredients.
