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

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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

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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

When I pay a cleaning fee, I expect someone to handle the work of preparing a property for its next occupants: washing linens, scrubbing bathrooms, cleaning floors.

From Salon ● Oct. 28, 2026

The employer group says that although the local represents just 2% of the ports’ International Longshore and Warehouse Union workforce, the watchmen’s work covers facilities that handle more than half of the complex’s cargo.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

But they explain an important mechanism: Amazon could handle growth with fewer additional labor hours.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026

Whatever the outcome of the NFL's joint review with the NFLPA, the league will face greater scrutiny over how they handle players around games played overseas.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

Once our plates are clean, Aunt Melissa offers to handle the dishes so we can get some rest.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Saez handles economic analyses for proposals that look like they have political potential; the law professors advise on technical issues or can help draft bill language.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

“It’s accelerating something that was already on the way of happening and then it makes the situation worse,” said John-Patrick M. Fritz, a partner at an L.A.-based law firm that handles small-business bankruptcy cases.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

The Kekova ceramics are distinctive, with two handles, a ridge in the middle and a flat base.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

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

The boys each balanced a bushel on their soup-bowl helmets; the third bushel they carried between them by its handles.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

The ports in September handled a record 1,055,086 containers, measured in 20-foot equivalent units, up 24% on the same month last year, according to ports data.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

She claimed university officials discouraged her from going to the police and handled the matter internally.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

More than half also managed health services, protected them from fraud and handled investing.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026

Nevertheless, Sills said that those who dealt with Hurts were "incredibly conservative" and that he had "complete confidence" in how the Eagles handled the situation.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

“Business is handled in my office or not at all.”

From "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon G. Flake

It raised questions over the NFL's handling of the matter and its general approach to player health and safety, partly because the game in question was part of the league's international series.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

Thousands of Indonesians protested in Jakarta and other cities Wednesday against economic hardship, graft and the government's handling of devastating wildfires emitting a toxic haze that has sickened thousands.

From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026

The U.A.E. court handling the main case hasn’t publicized the proceedings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026

A KFF poll in September found that 60% of voters are very worried or somewhat worried about handling healthcare expenses, while 59% expressed that type of concern about paying for gasoline and other transportation expenses.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026

I let Pasqual and Louis, one of our most trustworthy employees, who was taking on more responsibility all the time, know that I’d be handling the Gorens’ yard myself that morning.

From "Lawn Boy Returns" by Gary Paulsen

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