handsome
gb/hˈænsəm/ us/hˈænsəm/
A2
English
~ 2000
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Good-looking in a masculine way
Good-looking in a way people often use to talk about men.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is handsome
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'handsome' for women, but in modern English it is most often used for men; 'beautiful' or 'pretty' are more common for women.
Synonyms
good-looking (More general term for physical attractiveness, can apply to any gender.)
|
attractive (Broad term for appealing appearance or charm.)
Antonyms
unattractive (Lacking physical appeal or beauty.)
Collocations
handsome man
|handsome actor
|tall and handsome
|handsome face
|handsome stranger
Themes
appearance
|people
|descriptions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The actor is considered one of the most handsome men in Hollywood.
- She thought he looked very handsome in his new suit.
- He was tall, dark, and undeniably handsome.
- That was the most handsome groom I had ever seen.
- Even at sixty, he remained a handsome gentleman.
Learner examples
- The man is very handsome.
- My brother is a handsome person.
- He looks handsome in that shirt.
- That actor is handsome.
- I think your friend is handsome.
adjective
B2
property
2
Large or generous in amount
Big in amount or size, and nice to have.
Usage pattern:
a handsome [amount/sum/profit]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with physical appearance; context usually makes the sense clear.
Synonyms
substantial (Emphasizes the large size or importance of something.)
|
generous (Highlights kindness or largeness, especially in giving.)
Antonyms
meager (Very small in amount or quality.)
Collocations
handsome profit
|handsome sum
|handsome salary
|handsome margin
Themes
money
|size
|evaluation
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They made a handsome profit from the sale.
- She received a handsome salary for her work.
- The charity was given a handsome donation.
- He left his children a handsome inheritance.
Learner examples
- He got a handsome salary for the job.
- We made a handsome profit last year.
- She gave a handsome gift to the school.
- The company paid a handsome bonus.
adjective
B2
property
3
Attractive or well-made object
Nice to look at because it is well-made or has good shape.
Usage pattern:
a handsome [building/piece of furniture]
Synonyms
elegant (Stylish and graceful in appearance.)
|
fine (Of high quality or excellence.)
Antonyms
ugly (Unpleasant to look at.)
Collocations
handsome building
|handsome desk
|handsome garden
Themes
design
|appearance
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The library is housed in a handsome old building.
- They bought a handsome oak table for the dining room.
- The park features several handsome fountains.
Learner examples
- It is a handsome house.
- The city has many handsome buildings.
- We saw a handsome bridge over the river.
Grammar
Dictionary form
handsome
IPA
GB/hˈænsəm/
US/hˈænsəm/
Syllables & stress
hand - some (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (hand)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: handsome
- Comparative: handsomer
- Superlative: handsomest
Word family
Forms
handsomer
adjective
handsomest
adjective
Core family
handsomely
adverb C1
Related words
handsomeness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
ugly
adjective A2
Expressions
devilishly handsome
1/dˈɛvəlɪʃli hˈænsəm/
fixed phrase
informal
Extremely and charmingly attractive man
Very good-looking in a way that seems exciting or slightly bad.
Examples
- The spy was devilishly handsome and knew it.
- He smiled that devilishly handsome smile of his.
tall, dark, and handsome
1/tˈɔl | dˈɑɹk | ˈænd hˈænsəm/
fixed phrase
Description of an attractive man
Used to describe a man who is tall, has dark hair, and is very good-looking.
Examples
- She always dreamed of meeting someone tall, dark, and handsome.
- In the movie, the hero was tall, dark, and handsome.
ruggedly handsome
1/ɹˈʌɡɪdli hˈænsəm/
fixed phrase
handsome in a rough, strong way
Looking handsome in a way that is strong and a bit rough, like someone who spends a lot of time outdoors.
Examples
- People often describe the actor as ruggedly handsome.
- Her father was a ruggedly handsome farmer with kind eyes.
ruggedly handsome
2/ɹˈʌɡɪdli hˈænsəm/
fixed phrase
Strong and rough but attractive man
Good-looking in a strong and rough way, like someone who works outdoors.
Examples
- The cowboy was ruggedly handsome with sunburned skin.
- He had a ruggedly handsome face with a square jaw.