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Synonyms

handling

American  
[hand-ling] / ˈhænd lɪŋ /

noun

  1. a touching, grasping, or using with the hands.

  2. the manner of treating or dealing with something; management; treatment.

  3. the manual or mechanical method or process by which something is moved, carried, transported, etc.

adjective

  1. of or relating to the process of moving, transporting, delivering, working with, etc..

    The factory added a 10 percent handling charge for delivery.
handling British  
/ ˈhændlɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act or an instance of picking up, turning over, or touching something

  2. treatment, as of a theme in literature

    1. the process by which a commodity is packaged, transported, etc

    2. ( as modifier )

      handling charges

  4. law the act of receiving property that one knows or believes to be stolen

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of handling

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English handlung (noun); equivalent to handle + -ing 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It marked the symbolic beginning of her ministry as archbishop, a role to which she was appointed after her predecessor Justin Welby resigned in 2024 after criticism of his handling of a serious abuse case.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Reports describe last-minute efforts to hold onto the job and mounting frustration over stalled prosecutions and the handling of high-profile files tied to Jeffrey Epstein.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

But Salesforce has crafted its own unique strategy for the FDE role, opting to selectively deploy FDEs and limiting the types of data some FDEs are tasked with handling.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

Elon Musk’s rocket company is one of the most unique on the planet, handling more than half of all orbital launches worldwide and building its competitive moat through the pioneering use of reusable rockets.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

When he squeezed my shoulder, his hand was warm, even though he’d been handling the clammy hose.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.