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

Handling both the charge and recharge cycles is a reactor about 15 inches in diameter and 8 feet tall that can generate around 100 kilowatts of heat.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Handling that level of complexity is difficult for human researchers.

From Science Daily • Dec. 22, 2025

Handling hecklers lobbing insults while cloaked in darkness is an artform.

From Salon • May 24, 2024

Handling errors cost the visitors and Lisa Thomson rescued Scotland with an almighty clearance after Meryl Smith's initial clearance had been charged down.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2024

Handling an unconscious monkey in Level 4 is a tricky operation, because monkeys can wake up, and they have teeth and a powerful bite, and they are remarkably strong and agile.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

Related Words

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