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

Woody Ye, partner at Junsheng Consulting, told AFP that part of the reason for Manus's fallout was its failure to properly handle its legal issues.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

Similar spatial organization appears in systems that handle sight and sound.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 31, 2026

Your guidance should be about helping her better handle her workload.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026

They are supposed to earn badges, develop skills, sell things, handle money, go camping, meet new people, encounter unfamiliar places, ask questions, solve problems and make decisions.

From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026

This idea is just taking shape in my brain, but I can’t handle a Dad-and-Celia fight with Brie and Teddy watching.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

“We certainly have regular return clients each year,” said Kingsley Read, director at ShipMyCar, a U.K.-based logistics company that handles car imports.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Researchers tested each generation for oral glucose tolerance, a measure used to evaluate how effectively the body handles glucose and identify signs of insulin resistance, which is an important warning sign for diabetes.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 31, 2026

Hochman holds incredible power over the thousands of lives entangled in the matters his office handles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

The shipping route, which handles five percent of global maritime trade, will cut the number of daily transmits from 36 to 34 from September 3, and to 32 later in the month.

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

Clare begrudgingly let her take the handles of the wheelbarrow, grumbling something about the load being heavier than usual.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Last year, it handled about nine million passengers, according to the Kenyan authorities.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

"That was really clever," said Milanesi, arguing the arrangement frees Ternus from a role Cook has handled alone for years.

From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026

The study comes with several significant limitations, particularly because melatonin is handled differently from one country to another.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026

Some renters are now demanding that this kind of billing practice — often handled by outside companies, which add on their own fees — be banned outright.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

Duane once asked Handsome how he handled conversations with Magic because she would drop by his field whenever Duane was still asleep in his cave.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

My older brother was responsible for handling their estate, but he never probated their will.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026

That echoes prior comments he has made voicing confidence in Ueda’s handling of policy—a remark market participants interpreted as endorsing more rate hikes in Japan.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

After another McKenzie break led to nothing, some more beautiful handling resulted in Leroy Carter scampering into the left corner, a fabulous finish.

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026

“She said that they were handling it through the legal process,” Bass told the news station.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

The Egyptians had an extremely cumbersome way of handling fractions.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

Related Words

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