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

Things like new delivery lockers, she said, will make it easier for restaurants to handle digital orders.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

Employers, the committee wrote, hold a “jarring” skepticism about the current generation’s ability to handle workplace demands, solve problems without clear answers, and recover from setbacks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

For the robot to fly with the speed and aggressiveness of a real insect, the researchers needed a system that could handle uncertainty while rapidly solving complex control problems.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026

In January, with Ruben Amorim under pressure for poor results, the Portuguese said that "if people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the criticisms of everything, we need to change the club".

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and count to ten, trying to get a handle on what I came here to ask her.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Zonos, a St. George, Utah-based company that processes customs documentation for foreign mail services, handles much of the mail moving through Canada and other countries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

“He handles constructive criticism, for me, with some of the best of them that I’ve been around,” Heyward said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

The bill which established the Independent Remuneration Board was backed by the Assembly Commission - a body which handles the running of Parliament Buildings and involves representatives of Stormont's main parties.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

The FBI handles international cyber frauds and cross-border financial crimes.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026

Finally, she goes behind me and takes the handles of my wheelchair.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Moving transfers as far as Malaysia could require as many as 58 VLCCs, compared with around 25 if the additional barrels were handled in the Gulf of Oman.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

The department said it could not specify how many people were affected, as the Los Angeles Police Department handled evacuations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

"I don't think he handled it in the best way possible."

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

Always ask how future premium increases are handled: traditional long-term-care premiums are not necessarily guaranteed to remain static.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

Like the armorers of the 46th Guards, the armorers of the 587th Regiment handled over three tons of bombs in a day.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

But he said Britain was doing a "poor job" of handling sickness in the workplace, leading to more people becoming disengaged and dropping out altogether.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

“Risk markets seem to be handling this fairly well. It really seems to be a rate market problem,” said Scott Kimball, chief investment officer for fixed income at Loop Capital Asset Management.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

The DEA’s handling of Marset after he arrived in the U.S. has also been a point of contention.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026

Biggs has defended his handling of the matter, pointing to his background as a prosecutor and his past votes to decertify the Colorado City Police Department.

From Salon ● Sep. 21, 2026

“Would you be handling her if it was Sydney and not me?” asked Brooklyn.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Related Words

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