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

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

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

The remainder of the nearly 650 miles of pipeline across Montana and on to Guernsey, Wyo., would require an expansion of the existing Bridger Pipeline, owned by Wyoming’s True family, to handle heavy crude.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

"We've done our best to try to handle that within the mechanisms that we have to offset that," Rainey said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

“Specifically, the fear was that I’d go broke and not be able to handle being out of the game. But I sent the definitive email.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

And how will they handle the extra burden of Europa League football?

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

My shoulders stiffened and I nervously pushed the handle of my handbag up to the crook of my elbow.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

The Panama Canal handles five percent of global maritime trade and around 40 percent of US container traffic.

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

She handles intake for new clients, including those who are targeted by stalkers.

From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026

When suddenly, from the depths of this cave, he pulled out a very crumpled, brown paper bag with soft, ivory fabric peaking out between the twine handles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

New York City handles nearly 3 million tons of trash a year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Mamita and Mami and Tía Isa, not understanding that drumsticks are the only kind of drumsticks that will do on a drum, suggested pencils or the handles of wooden spoons used for making cake batter.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

For a time, according to court documents, he once handled the important job of “maintaining radios and communications” for Guzmán Salazar, ensuring that one of the most wanted men in Mexico could operate freely.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

After a few days, Lee started to settle in, proudly recounting how she handled distributing a series of checks on her own when her trainer was out of the office.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

The birds, in turn, are accustomed to floodlights for the "penguin parade" tourist attraction, as well as being periodically handled by veterinarian scientists for monitoring of their health.

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

Given the current circumstances, we have considered whether we should remove this son from our will or otherwise change the way his inheritance would be handled.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

His mother had handled them all, with the help—through the mail—of his father, and he had some money in an account for college.

From "The River" by Gary Paulsen

"Keep dogs and children away from any unusual waxy or oily substances and avoid handling them with bare hands."

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

Her new salary is slightly more than the $17.40 hourly wages she had made at the soybean plant handling invoices and tracking loads.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

And Taylor Farms would certainly top the list for anyone glued to a toilet bowl lately, thanks to the company’s alleged indiscretion handling lettuce laced with the “explosive diarrhea” parasite.

From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2026

Barrera, the president of the San Diego Unified school board, also works as a senior state Education Department staffer, but has no involvement in handling complaints such as the one just filed, the department said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

In the Jefferson-Madison collaboration, Madison was not just responsible for handling the messy particulars; he was also accountable for shielding his chief from the political ambitions throbbing away in his own soul.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

• administer
• conduct
• control
• discuss
• employ
• exercise
• govern
• operate
• play
• serve
• supervise
• take
• treat
• use
• utilize
• work