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

Here are her discussions with people who have made the move, and advice on how to handle potential problems that arise within families.

From MarketWatch ● 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

Mayor Karen Bass’ office projected confidence that the city was better prepared to handle upcoming red flag conditions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

“I’ve taken care of hundreds of kids, and two of my own, Hank dear. I know how to handle the little ones. It’s my job.”

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko

The analyst notes that the projects have capital-efficient deal structures where clients supply the primary generator engines, while Enerflex handles modular design and fabrication.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Eumetsat handles routine satellite operations and supplies marine and atmospheric observations, while ESA provides data covering land, the cryosphere, inland waters, and atmospheric products processed after acquisition.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

She says she’s now mom’s full-time caregiver: She cooks, manages her medications, drives her to appointments and handles her finances and insurance paperwork.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026

Collardson handles operations for the Solar Service of Colorado, a solar maintenance and inspection company.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

The gardener bent to the handles of the machine and walked slowly along the bank scattering the short-tipped grass and the pin-point daisy heads.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

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

“I wish I could have handled that situation a whole lot better,” Hill testified.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

"Millwall did the right thing by announcing there is no place for this sort of thing. I'm happy with how it was handled, but really sad that it happened."

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

In another example, Siri AI handled a series of commands: “What time did Andrew say he’s getting in from JFK?”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

It smelled like all the other bodies he’d handled.

From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez

To prepare for combat, cadets should learn land navigation, weapons handling, communications, casualty care and small-unit tactics as well as field exercises.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

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

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Before to Tuesday’s vote, CoC chair Ben Kay gave a recap of measures the board took to administer an impartial evaluation that scored the county higher than the city on handling homelessness issues.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

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

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026

He and Jule had been handling Immie’s death from the London end.

From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart

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