handle

American  

[han-dl] / ˈhæn dl /

noun

• handles
  plural

1. a part of a thing made specifically to be grasped or held by the hand.

2. that which may be held, seized, grasped, or taken advantage of in effecting a purpose.

   The clue was a handle for solving the mystery.

3. Slang.

   1. a person's name, especially the given name.

   2. a person's alias, nickname, or code name.

   3. a username, as on a social media website.

      What's your Twitter handle?

   4. a name or term by which something is known, described, or explained.

4. the total amount wagered on an event, series of events, or for an entire season or seasons, as at a gambling casino or in horse racing.

   The track handle for the day was over a million dollars.

5. the total amount of money taken in by a business concern on one transaction, sale, event, or series of transactions, or during a specific period, especially by a theater, nightclub, sports arena, resort hotel, or the like.

6. hand.

7. Informal. a way of getting ahead or gaining an advantage.

   The manufacturer regards the new appliance as its handle on the Christmas market.

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verb (used with object)

• handles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• handled,
  past participle,  past
• handling
  present participle

1. to touch, pick up, carry, or feel with the hand or hands; use the hands on; take hold of.

2. to manage, deal with, or be responsible for.

   My wife handles the household accounts.

   This computer handles all our billing.

3. to use or employ, especially in a particular manner; manipulate.

   to handle color expertly in painting.

4. to manage, direct, train, or control.

   to handle troops.

5. to deal with (a subject, theme, argument, etc.).

   The poem handled the problem of instinct versus intellect.

6. to deal with or treat in a particular way.

   to handle a person with tact.

7. to deal or trade in.

   to handle dry goods.

   Synonyms:

   peddle, hawk, market, carry, vend, sell

verb (used without object)

• handles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• handled,
  past participle,  past
• handling
  present participle

1. to behave or perform in a particular way when handled, directed, managed, etc..

   The troops handled well.

   The jet was handling poorly.

idioms

1. get / have a handle on, to acquire an understanding or knowledge of.

   Can you get a handle on what your new boss expects?

2. fly off the handle, to become very agitated or angry, especially without warning or adequate reason.

   I can't imagine why he flew off the handle like that.

handle British  

/ ˈhændəl /

noun

1. the part of a utensil, drawer, etc, designed to be held in order to move, use, or pick up the object

2. a glass beer mug with a handle

3. slang a person's name or title

4. a CB radio slang name for call sign

5. an opportunity, reason, or excuse for doing something

   his background served as a handle for their mockery

6. the quality, as of textiles, perceived by touching or feeling

7. the total amount of a bet on a horse race or similar event

8. informal to become suddenly extremely angry

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verb

1. to pick up and hold, move, or touch with the hands

2. to operate or employ using the hands

   the boy handled the reins well

3. to have power or control over

   my wife handles my investments

4. to manage successfully

   a secretary must be able to handle clients

5. to discuss (a theme, subject, etc)

6. to deal with or treat in a specified way

   I was handled with great tact

7. to trade or deal in (specified merchandise)

8. (intr) to react or respond in a specified way to operation or control

   the car handles well on bends

handle More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing handle

• fly off the handle
• get a fix (handle) on

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• handleability
  noun
• overhandle
  verb (used with object)
• prehandle
  verb (used with object)
• rehandle
  verb (used with object)
• handleable
  adjective
• handled
  adjective
• handleless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• handles
  plural

Participles

• handling
  present
• handled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• handle
  simple
• handles
  simple
• have handled
  perfect
• has handled
  perfect
• am handling
  progressive
• are handling
  progressive
• is handling
  progressive
• have been handling
  perfect progressive
• has been handling
  perfect progressive

Past

• handled
  simple
• had handled
  perfect
• was handling
  progressive
• were handling
  progressive
• had been handling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will handle
  simple
• will have handled
  perfect
• will be handling
  progressive
• will have been handling
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of handle

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English handel, Old English hand(e)le, derivative of hand ; (verb) Middle English handelen, Old English handlian (cognate with German handlen, Old Norse hǫndla “to seize”), derivative of the noun

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Explanation

To handle something is to control it, the way an elephant handler might handle an elephant, or the way you would use a handle to lift a suitcase. If you're panicking, a friend might suggest you "get a handle on yourself." How to get a handle on the word handle? Start with the thumb. Much like the word “thimble” is derived from “thumb,” “handle” essentially refers to an object held "in hand," or placed under your control. Handle can also have a more abstract meaning, such as understanding or grasping a concept. You should be able to handle geometry before you start trig, right? A handle is also slang for a nickname. "What's your handle?" is another way of saying "What's your name?"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

handle handles handled handling

A unique aspect of the model, according to Briski, is that it can handle images and video in addition to text.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

The researchers then tested whether the unconscious brain could handle something more complicated than simple sounds.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026

Singh said it can help limit the amount of "curtailment" -- the practice of reducing certain types of electricity because the grid cannot handle it.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

Lastly, you probably will not want to or be able to handle property matters forever.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026

Nim dropped the wagon handle and flew across the grassland.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr

Borrowing a feature from social media, Bumble now lets users create handles.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

The Kekova ceramics are distinctive, with two handles, a ridge in the middle and a flat base.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

It also handles FaceTime video calls, plays music and video and doubles as a digital picture frame when idle.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

Everyday habits such as eating a nutritious breakfast, getting regular exercise, and sleeping enough may play an important role in how well your mind handles difficult situations.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026

Aunt Nancy raises up from her seat, turns back to grip the handles like she’s just remembered they were on their way to the nest, but not like she remembers the real question.

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers

It handled about 8 million barrels of crude oil and oil products a day last year, enough to supply Japan, Germany, France and the U.K. combined.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Some people are turning to donkeys to carry loads that would normally have been handled by motor vehicles.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

That raised a few eyebrows, but the truth is both drivers could have handled themselves better.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Outside the United States, access to the drug will be handled through a licensing agreement between Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Recordati, a major pharmaceutical company headquartered in Italy.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026

“In some ways you’re not so stupid after all, Isidore. You handled that reasonably well. Even though Milt had to come in and take over.”

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick

Padilla stressed that the new Senate observers would have no role in administering elections or handling ballots.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

I’d been baptized and raised in a mainstream Kentucky Protestant church, but my father had shared childhood stories of snake handling and speaking in tongues in his Pentecostal Appalachian congregation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

Raman has described her handling of that proposal as her biggest mistake at City Hall, saying she had failed to do the necessary work to build support and created “unnecessary friction.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

My sister started taking her to appointments, doing the grocery shopping and handling repairs, and then moved in.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026

“Thorn, you told your coven about our rules for handling the books?”

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

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