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

That level of efficiency could make the approach especially attractive for future electronics designed to handle large amounts of information with lower energy demands.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

No more half-gripping the handle while making rounds around the dusty concrete.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

Risk capacity becomes the focus, because that’s how much risk your portfolio can handle before potential losses would be a problem.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Gemma Daly described the cattle as "semi-feral" and said staff had expressed concerns over the years about how to handle the animals without causing them stress, or risking injury to themselves.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

Instinctively, Jonah grabbed for the door handle, but it was too late.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

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

Natural compounds in oranges, particularly hesperidin, a citrus flavonoid known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, seem to influence processes related to high blood pressure, cholesterol balance and the way the body handles sugar.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026

A jacquard 'S' in the style of the handles of the FA Cup trophy is repeated across the base of the jersey.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

His duster parted, the sandy-haired man lightly touches the handles of his holstered guns.

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Unlike natural DNA -- long, entangled strands that behave like wet spaghetti when handled -- short and rigid pieces of synthetic DNA can be arranged with much greater precision at extremely small scales.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

Ship-tracking data from Kpler says that 13 vessels on Thursday crossed a waterway that routinely handled more than 130 a day before the war.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

"Both Congress and the general American workplace were designed by and for men who had often stay-at-home spouses who handled all of the domestic work," she said.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

McNamara said the EU had met with the opposition, government and even the chief justice to stress that any challenges to the vote outcome should be handled "peacefully".

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

Through Pickwick, for example, we met the man at the central telephone exchange whose department handled orders to connect and disconnect lines.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

We could lean on Congress and say: “Once upon a time in 1966, Congress established the statutory protection for handling gifts.”

From Slate ● Aug. 17, 2026

The UFU called on the Alliance politician to quit on Friday over his department's handling of a controversial cull of 51 cattle in Fivemiletown in County Tyrone.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

Critics have argued that organic material detected in fossils could have entered the specimens much later from microbes, soil, handling, or other environmental sources.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026

“Safety remains our top priority, and I’m incredibly proud of our team and how they’re handling this very challenging situation,” Lehmkuhl said on the call.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

The staff had been handling the first fifty-three patients for the better part of two years, with astonishing results.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

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