noun
pocketful
Pocketful (noun) means As much as a pocket can hold. Example: “The kids came home with a pocketful of seashells.”
noun
1
As much as a pocket can hold.
"The kids came home with a pocketful of seashells."
"White came to City Hall on Monday morning, entering through a basement window, with a gun and a pocketful of bullets."
— George Mendenhall, Harvey Milk, Mayor Moscone Slain in Shooting (1978)
2
A small or modest amount, used loosely.
"Much more than a pocketful of fun awaits in this collection of rhymes and poems!"
— James Marshall, Pocketful of Nonsense (2003)
"He had barely a pocketful of coins left after the trip."
"This Government came in with a pocketful of promises. Every time the Prime Minister (Mr. Mulroney) saw two farmers at a crossroads he had five more promises to make."
— Canada. Parliament, House of Commons Debates (1986)
How to use pocketful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe amount that fits in a pocket, or, casually, a small quantity of something.
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Word forms
- Plural
- pocketsful, pocketfuls
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The kids came home with a _____ of seashells.
Etymology
From pocket + -ful.
Rhymes for pocketful
See all rhymes for pocketful →Frequently asked questions
What does “pocketful” mean?
The word “pocketful” means as much as a pocket can hold. In plain terms, the amount that fits in a pocket, or, casually, a small quantity of something.
How do you use “pocketful” in a sentence?
Here is “pocketful” used in a sentence: “The kids came home with a pocketful of seashells.”
What part of speech is “pocketful”?
“Pocketful” is a noun.
How many meanings does “pocketful” have?
“Pocketful” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: as much as a pocket can hold.
