handsome Hear it!

handsome Definition

hand·some (han′səm, hand′-)

adjective

    1. Now Rare moderately large
    2. large; impressive; considerable a handsome sum
  2. generous; magnanimous; gracious a handsome gesture
  3. good-looking; of pleasing appearance: said esp. of attractiveness that is manly, dignified, or impressive rather than delicate and graceful a handsome lad, a handsome chair

Etymology: orig., easily handled, convenient < ME handsom: see hand & -some

handsome Related Forms

hand′·somely adverb hand′·some·ness noun

handsome Synonyms

handsome

modif.

  1. Beautiful or elegant

    fine, attractive, good-looking, beautiful, elegant, stately, well-proportioned, impressive, imposing, aristocratic, comely; see also beautiful 1, 2, dignified, stately 2.

  2. Having good masculine appearance

    good-looking, attractive, dapper, spruce, clean-cut, virile, well-built, athletic, personable, strong, muscular, smooth*, sharp*, sexy*, easy on the eyes*, tall*, dark and handsome*, cute*, hunky*; see also sense 1; manly.

    Antonyms homely, ugly*, unattractive.

  3. Large or extensive

    full, ample, considerable; see extensive 1, large 1.

  4. Noble

    gracious, princely, magnanimous; see noble 2, worthy. See syn. study at beautiful.

handsome Usage Examples

Preposition: than

man: The Groom should always look more handsome than the best man.

Preposition: beyond

word: Christian can hardly string a sentence together, but he's handsome beyond words.

Modifies a noun

  • mansion: The vicarage is a handsome stone mansion, a little south from the Church.
  • edifice: The Roman Catholic chapel is a handsome edifice of 1860.
  • prince: That doesn't seem a likely way to make handsome princes fall in love with you.
  • chap: He is a handsome chap, waiting for his luck to change.
  • stranger: From the minute she spots the handsome stranger, Lucy's world begins to change.
  • dividend: It will pay handsome dividends to visit them for ideas on almost every aspect of " Your Wedding " .

Modifying Another Word

  • ruggedly: Fillion is not only ruggedly handsome, but also has tremendous range.
  • devastatingly: I just knew he was a nice guy â and devastatingly handsome.
  • strikingly: She was far advanced in years, but was still strikingly handsome.
  • dashingly: Young, dashingly handsome, and with enough pectoral muscles to get the audience screaming in lust whenever his shirt is removed.
  • darkly: She then meets the seductive Gregori, an arrogant yet darkly handsome Romanian who offers to help her find her father.
  • stunningly: He had not been gone long when a stunningly handsome woman appeared.

Used with adjective complement

  • look: The Groom should always look more handsome than the best man.
  • call: Just then I fell into conversation with a young Jewish woman, who but for her bad teeth could have been called very handsome.
  • include: The vast flocks of wildfowl include handsome Smew, and this natural bounty attracts predators such as White-tailed, Lesser Spotted and Golden Eagles.
  • talk: Talk about handsome, well that's our Diamond, a beautiful elegant boy.
  • make: In a nutshell, Blackwood exudes Navigator's appeal only that it is made more handsome.
  • appear: Trotsky was wearing a commander's uniform and he appeared very handsome, genial and gracious sitting at his desk.