handsome
English meaning: Handsome
Definition
Good-looking, especially used to describe men.
Example
“The handsome young actor smiled warmly at the crowd of waiting fans.”
Another example: “She made a handsome profit when she sold the house.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A standard, slightly formal compliment used mainly for men's good looks, though 'a handsome woman' is a dated, dignified usage. It also describes generous amounts ('a handsome sum/profit') in more formal contexts.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From 'hand' plus '-some', originally meaning 'easy to handle'.
Synonyms
- good-looking
- attractive
- striking
Antonyms / Opposites
- ugly
- unattractive
Related Words
- good-looking
- striking
- dashing
- appearance
Common Collocations
- tall and handsome
- handsome man
- handsome profit
- handsome reward
Word Forms
handsome; handsomer/more handsome; handsomest/most handsome; handsomely (adv)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B