handle
Americannoun
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a part of a thing made specifically to be grasped or held by the hand.
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that which may be held, seized, grasped, or taken advantage of in effecting a purpose.
The clue was a handle for solving the mystery.
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Slang.
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a person's name, especially the given name.
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a person's alias, nickname, or code name.
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a username, as on a social media website.
What's your Twitter handle?
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a name or term by which something is known, described, or explained.
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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.
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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.
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hand.
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Informal. a way of getting ahead or gaining an advantage.
The manufacturer regards the new appliance as its handle on the Christmas market.
verb (used with object)
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to touch, pick up, carry, or feel with the hand or hands; use the hands on; take hold of.
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to manage, deal with, or be responsible for.
My wife handles the household accounts.
This computer handles all our billing.
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to use or employ, especially in a particular manner; manipulate.
to handle color expertly in painting.
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to manage, direct, train, or control.
to handle troops.
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to deal with (a subject, theme, argument, etc.).
The poem handled the problem of instinct versus intellect.
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to deal with or treat in a particular way.
to handle a person with tact.
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to deal or trade in.
to handle dry goods.
verb (used without object)
idioms
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get / have a handle on, to acquire an understanding or knowledge of.
Can you get a handle on what your new boss expects?
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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.
noun
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the part of a utensil, drawer, etc, designed to be held in order to move, use, or pick up the object
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a glass beer mug with a handle
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slang a person's name or title
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a CB radio slang name for call sign
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an opportunity, reason, or excuse for doing something
his background served as a handle for their mockery
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the quality, as of textiles, perceived by touching or feeling
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the total amount of a bet on a horse race or similar event
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informal to become suddenly extremely angry
verb
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to pick up and hold, move, or touch with the hands
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to operate or employ using the hands
the boy handled the reins well
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to have power or control over
my wife handles my investments
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to manage successfully
a secretary must be able to handle clients
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to discuss (a theme, subject, etc)
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to deal with or treat in a specified way
I was handled with great tact
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to trade or deal in (specified merchandise)
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(intr) to react or respond in a specified way to operation or control
the car handles well on bends
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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handleabilitynoun
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overhandleverb (used with object)
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prehandleverb (used with object)
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rehandleverb (used with object)
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handleableadjective
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handledadjective
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handlelessadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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handlesimple
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handlessimple
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have handledperfect
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has handledperfect
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am handlingprogressive
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are handlingprogressive
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is handlingprogressive
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have been handlingperfect progressive
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has been handlingperfect progressive
Past
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handledsimple
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had handledperfect
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was handlingprogressive
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were handlingprogressive
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had been handlingperfect progressive
Future
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?"
Vocabulary lists containing handle
Mother's Day Words: What Mothers Do
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Macbeth's "Is this a dagger..." soliloquy
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"Digging" by Seamus Heaney
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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.
See Examples For:
Its custom Power architecture still drives IBM servers that handle critical business functions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
"We have to know what it is first before we can tell people how to handle it or what the dangers are," a spokesperson said.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
E-bikes can go faster than traditional bikes and are often ridden by children and teenagers who may not have the experience to handle the speed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
She lives modestly and is grateful for the inheritance, but she’s unsure of the best way to handle it.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026
She handed me her big bag with the broken handle.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
Candi Carter, whose Cistus Media handles e-commerce for Tegna, said viewers have long been accustomed to seeing products touted inside of programming content, going back to the days of Oprah Winfrey’s “favorite things” segments.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
She has never clipped her children’s toenails—too anxious for that, she said, so the nanny handles it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
The settlement handles more than a third of the capital's waste, according to government figures.
From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026
The position was created by statute in the 1800s; the marshal serves as the chief of police for the court, attends each court session, and handles ministerial duties, like paying the justices and their staffs.
From Slate ● Jul. 15, 2026
Between and behind the lights there were shadows moving swiftly, and as they came toward us I could see that they were men—men in white uniforms carrying nets, round nets with long handles.
From "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien
The statement appears to allude to a number of high-profile dossiers handled by Khan.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
They also demonstrated that interference between the bright and dark modes could be handled as a single integrated design parameter.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
“Any potential matters arising from this incident will be handled through the appropriate processes established by the collective bargaining agreement.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Customs has so far handled more than 63 million entry summaries for the current fiscal year that ends in September.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
William handled the terms of the transfer, and legally the gift was in his name only.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
Amid their post-”Love Island USA” fame, Olandria and Vansteenberghe spoke candidly to Glamour about handling the newfound deluge of popularity, demand and fan love — and how they support each other through it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Chadwick Boseman’s brothers, Derrick Boseman and Kevin Boseman, are taking the actor’s widow to court over her handling of his multimillion-dollar estate.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Prof Alan Dunlop, who studied architecture at the GSA, has previously criticised GSA management's handling of the two fires and ran for chair of the board in 2022.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Pradhan, facing growing pressure over the handling of exam controversies, said Tuesday the government remained committed to reform.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
He had imagined the descent would be very difficult, and surprised himself by handling it with ease, his confidence growing as he slid swiftly and noiselessly to the fern-covered ground.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
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.