door handle

American  

noun

Chiefly British.

door handles plural

1. doorknob.

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Usage

What is a door handle? A door handle is the handle used to open and close a door. Sometimes, it means the same thing as doorknob. But the word doorknob most often specifically refers to a handle shaped like a knob—a part that sticks out and has a rounded end. Door handles in other shapes might be called doorknobs, but it’s more likely for them to be called door handles or just handles. Another difference is that doorknobs typically turn. Door handles can turn, but they can also be fixed in place, like a vertical or horizontal bar. The term door handle can also refer to the one that’s used to open a car door. Example: I went to open the door and the door handle pulled right off—apparently its screws had gotten loose.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• door handles
  plural

Etymology

Origin of door handle

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

The new rules stipulate that all doors except the tailgate "shall be equipped with a mechanical release exterior door handle".

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026

In Minnesota, one officer continued to hold on to a door handle as another officer appeared to move in front of the vehicle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 10, 2026

One of the agents tugs at the driver's side door handle.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2026

We make eye contact, and he reaches for the door handle.

From Salon • Oct. 11, 2025

He untangled his arms from the bike he’d pulled into the car and grabbed for the door handle.

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix