handsome

handsome — adjective

1. having a face and appearance that is strong and balanced in a pleasing way — use

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

having a face and appearance that is strong and balanced in a pleasing way — used especially of men, describing features that are regular, balanced, and traditionally attractive rather than delicate or boyish

Example

Christopher had a handsome face with strong features and bright eyes.

handsome face — typical collocation for facial appearance

At nearly eighty, Mr. Okafor was still a handsome man with a dignified smile.

handsome man — common attributive use

Common collocations
  • handsome face
  • handsome man
  • handsome young man
  • look handsome
  • most handsome
Synonyms
  • good-looking

    more general, less emphasis on masculine strength

  • attractive

    broader; can refer to personality or appearance

  • gorgeous

    stronger and more informal; suggests striking beauty

Antonyms
  • ugly

    direct opposite

  • plain

    lacks distinctive attractiveness, less strong than 'ugly'

Grammar Patterns

handsome + noun

be handsome

look handsome

most handsome

Usage Note

This is the most common and widely understood sense of 'handsome'. It contrasts with 'beautiful' or 'pretty', which suggest softer or more delicate attractiveness. Distinguish from Sense 3 (STRONG FEATURES), which applies to women.

Common Mistakes

That actress is very handsome.
That actress is very pretty.
'handsome' for a woman (Sense 2) suggests strong, large features; 'pretty' is the usual word for delicate feminine attractiveness.

2. notably large in size or value — used before nouns that refer to sums of money,

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

notably large in size or value — used before nouns that refer to sums of money, financial returns, or other measurable quantities that are clearly above the normal level

Example

The company offered him a handsome salary to join their research team.

handsome salary — typical money collocation

Anjali earned a handsome profit from selling her apartment in the city centre.

Common collocations
  • handsome salary
  • handsome profit
  • handsome return
  • handsome sum
  • handsome fee
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • meagre

    opposite; disappointingly small

  • modest

    opposite; small in size or quantity

Grammar Patterns

handsome + [money/amount noun]

Usage Note

Usually modifies nouns referring to money or measurable value — e.g. salary, profit, fee, income, advance, return, sum, dividend. Not used for physical measurements (height, weight, distance) or abstract quantities.

Common Mistakes

He gave a handsome speech.
He gave a generous donation.
'handsome' for amounts only works with money or measurable quantities, not abstract nouns like 'speech'.

3. used of a woman whose good looks come from bold, well-defined facial features an

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

used of a woman whose good looks come from bold, well-defined facial features and a composed, confident posture — the opposite of small, soft, or delicate attractiveness and closer to a dignified, strong kind of appeal

Example

Adaeze was a tall, handsome woman with striking features that turned heads.

tall, handsome woman — typical context for this sense

Critics described her as handsome rather than pretty, with a strong jaw and high cheekbones.

described as handsome rather than pretty — contrast cue

Common collocations
  • handsome woman
  • handsome face
  • described as handsome
Synonyms
  • striking

    emphasises the immediate visual impact

  • dignified

    focuses on the graceful, impressive quality

  • statuesque

    specifically of tall, well-built women

Antonyms
  • pretty

    implies small, delicate features rather than strong ones

  • delicate

    opposite in facial quality

Grammar Patterns

handsome + noun (woman)

describe someone as handsome

Usage Note

Distinguish from Sense 1 (ATTRACTIVE MAN). This sense is reserved for female subjects and stresses large, strong, dignified features rather than soft prettiness. It is less common in everyday conversation than 'pretty' or 'beautiful' for women.

Common Mistakes

She is a handsome woman' (meaning delicate beauty).
She is a handsome woman with striking cheekbones and a strong jaw.
'handsome' for women emphasises strong, striking features, not soft prettiness.

4. given or offered freely and willingly, reflecting a spirit of generosity in the

4.adjectiveB2
Definition

given or offered freely and willingly, reflecting a spirit of generosity in the giver — used of donations, gifts, rewards, and offers that are notably kind or bigger than expected, where the emphasis is on the giving act rather than just the amount

Example

The charity received a handsome donation from an unknown giver last month.

handsome donation — typical collocation for charitable giving

Heloísa offered a handsome reward for the return of her lost cat.

Common collocations
  • handsome donation
  • handsome gift
  • handsome reward
  • handsome contribution
Synonyms
  • generous

    more common and direct; can describe both the person and the act

  • liberal

    formal; suggests abundant giving

  • bountiful

    literary; suggests rich abundance

Antonyms
  • stingy

    unwilling to give; tight with money

  • meagre

    disappointingly small in amount

Grammar Patterns

handsome + [gift/offer noun]

Usage Note

Overlaps partly with Sense 2 (LARGE AMOUNT) in financial contexts, but this sense emphasises the giver's willingness and generosity rather than just the size of the amount. The modified noun is typically the thing given (donation, gift, reward) rather than the sum itself.

Common Mistakes

She is a handsome person.' (meaning generous).
She made a handsome donation to the hospital.
'handsome' for generosity modifies the action or thing given, not the person directly.

Word family

  • handsomely
    adverbB2
  • handsomeness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

While all four words describe a pleasing appearance, 'handsome' stands apart in suggesting a strong, well-proportioned, traditionally masculine attractiveness — regular features, a strong jaw, and a dignified bearing. 'Good-looking' is more general and neutral; it can describe anyone who is pleasant to look at, without the masculine connotations. 'Attractive' is the broadest of the group — it can refer to personality, voice, or overall appeal, not just physical appearance. 'Gorgeous' is the strongest and most informal, often implying near-perfect or striking beauty. For example, you might call a film star 'gorgeous' but describe a grandfather as 'handsome'. A person can be 'good-looking' without being 'handsome' if their appeal is more boyish or delicate.

good-looking ↗attractive ↗gorgeous ↗handsome ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • quite handsome
  • very handsome
  • extremely handsome

Prepositions

  • handsome in [appearance/face/features]

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

The word 'handsome' comes from Middle English 'handsum', which originally meant 'easy to handle or convenient' — a combination of 'hand' and the suffix '-some' (meaning 'tending to be'). In the 16th century, the meaning shifted from 'handy, convenient' to 'fair, pleasing to the eye', perhaps by way of the idea that something well-proportioned was easy to manage. By the 18th century, the word had broadened further to include the senses 'generous' and 'ample in amount'. The modern sense of male attractiveness emerged as the dominant meaning in the 19th century.