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.

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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

3. 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

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Etymology

Origin of handling

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

Example Sentences

Her testimony about the police handling of Boyd’s dashcam tablet, his phones, Spivey’s body and the blue pills echoed the account she gave in her deposition and in court, one of the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

"I understand the why, but I just don't understand how they're handling it."

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

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

Related Words

• administration
• approach
• care
• conduct
• manipulation
• supervision
• treatment