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.

---

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

---

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

---

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 idea is to give them a window of time to handle things on their own before you make yourself available for questions, coaching or feedback.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

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

I was 100% sure I knew exactly how I would handle things, and it didn’t happen.

From Los Angeles Times ● 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

He pulled on the handle of the toilet.

From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry

It also handles FaceTime video calls, plays music and video and doubles as a digital picture frame when idle.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 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

The proliferation of businesses and services, and concurrent growth in related trademark applications, has made coming up with the necessary handles more complex than ever, Barrett said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Thor shrugged, grasped the cauldron by the rim, and flipped it so he was inside it and the handles clattered at his feet.

From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman

It handled about 8 million barrels of crude oil and oil products a day last year, enough to supply Japan, Germany, France and the U.K. combined.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

A U.S. bar qualification wasn’t relevant to the firm’s work, the person said, because any legal opinions would be handled by local Chinese partners.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Without a scheme in place, the FCA has estimated that up to 19 million complaints would need to be handled individually, taking three years and costing lenders £6bn more.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Outside the United States, access to the drug will be handled through a licensing agreement between Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Recordati, a major pharmaceutical company headquartered in Italy.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026

“In some ways you’re not so stupid after all, Isidore. You handled that reasonably well. Even though Milt had to come in and take over.”

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick

The plaintiffs cite an additional aggravating factor: Shell's "history of misinformation regarding the causes and impacts of climate change," said Greg Lascelles, a lawyer at Hausfeld, the firm handling the lawsuit in London.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

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

Raman has described her handling of that proposal as her biggest mistake at City Hall, saying she had failed to do the necessary work to build support and created “unnecessary friction.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

There are other ways to do that, depending on how much risk you are OK with handling.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026

Burger carried the suitcase, but it belonged to Dasch, who was in charge of handling the money.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

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

---