handsome

/ˈhænsəm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhænsəm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhan(t)-səm/ (ame, mw)

handsome — adjective

  • handsomepositive
  • more handsomecomparative
  • most handsomesuperlative

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

1.形容詞B1
釋義

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

例句

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

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • ugly

    direct opposite

  • plain

    lacks distinctive attractiveness, less strong than 'ugly'

文法句型

handsome + noun

be handsome

look handsome

most handsome

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.形容詞B2
釋義

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

例句

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.

同義詞
反義詞
  • meagre

    opposite; disappointingly small

  • modest

    opposite; small in size or quantity

文法句型

handsome + [money/amount noun]

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.形容詞B2
釋義

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

例句

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

同義詞
  • striking

    emphasises the immediate visual impact

  • dignified

    focuses on the graceful, impressive quality

  • statuesque

    specifically of tall, well-built women

反義詞
  • pretty

    implies small, delicate features rather than strong ones

  • delicate

    opposite in facial quality

文法句型

handsome + noun (woman)

describe someone as handsome

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.形容詞B2
釋義

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

例句

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.

同義詞
  • generous

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

  • liberal

    formal; suggests abundant giving

  • bountiful

    literary; suggests rich abundance

反義詞
  • stingy

    unwilling to give; tight with money

  • meagre

    disappointingly small in amount

文法句型

handsome + [gift/offer noun]

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.