Word
handle
Phoneticshan·dle, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhændəɫ/
UK/hˈændəl/
注意In Japanese, ハンドル usually means “steering wheel; bike handlebars”. In English, the verb handle means to deal with or touch something, and a car's wheel is called a steering wheel.
주의In Korean, 핸들 usually means “steering wheel”. In English, handle means the part of a thing you hold, or to deal with something, and a car's wheel is called a steering wheel.
Definitions
01to touch or hold
A2 · Elementary
v. to touch, feel, or hold something with your hands.
v. to manipulate, touch, or hold an object using the hands. Transitive — requires a direct object.
日本語:触る※
Español:sujetar
“Please wash your hands before you handle the fresh bread.”
“The museum curator wore silk gloves to handle the ancient manuscript, ensuring that skin oils would not damage the fragile parchment.”
02to deal with a situation
B1 · Intermediate
v. to manage a situation, a problem, or a person.
v. to manage, control, or direct a situation or person; often implies a level of skill or emotional control.
日本語:扱う※
“She handled the difficult customer with a lot of patience.”
“The PR team handled the crisis with remarkable efficiency, issuing a statement before the news could negatively impact the company's stock price.”
Antonyms
03how a vehicle moves
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. the way a car or bike moves and responds when you drive it.
v. to respond to control or behave in a certain way when being driven or steered. Intransitive in this sense.
“The new car handles very well on wet roads.”
“Despite its bulky appearance, the SUV handles with the agility of a much smaller vehicle, even on tight mountain bends.”
04part you hold
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. the part of an object that you hold in your hand to use or move it.
n. the part of a tool, container, or door designed to be grasped by the hand.
“The handle of the suitcase broke because it was too heavy.”
“The carpenter carved a custom ergonomic handle for the chisel to reduce strain during long hours of detailed work.”
05online name
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Computing Informal · Slang
n. a name or nickname you use on the internet or social media.
n. a person's chosen nickname or identifier, particularly in digital environments or radio communication.
“I need to choose a cool handle for my new gaming account.”
“She decided to change her social media handle to something more professional before applying for jobs in the tech industry.”
06large bottle of alcohol
C1 · Advanced Countable noun American English · Informal
n. a very large bottle of alcohol, usually 1.75 litres.
n. a 1.75-litre bottle of distilled spirits, so named because bottles of this size often feature a moulded glass handle.
“We bought a handle of vodka for the big party on Saturday.”
“The store clerk reached for a handle of bourbon on the bottom shelf, noting that it was the most economical choice for a large gathering.”
Synonyms
07total money bet
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Sports Technical
n. the total amount of money bet on an event or at a casino.
n. the gross amount of money wagered within a specific period or on a specific sporting event.
“The total handle for the horse race was over a million dollars.”
“Economic analysts noted that the betting handle for the championship game exceeded expectations, indicating a surge in consumer discretionary spending.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “handle” in context.
Verb
01. handle data
“The new software is designed to handle data more efficiently than the previous version.”
verb + noun
02. handle information
“Journalists must learn how to handle sensitive information with extreme care.”
verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“Catania airport usually handles at least 40,000 passengers a day.” “The phone app lets you unlock the seat, where a convenient handle will lift the battery out.” “Finally, there are the ground systems to handle all the data moving to and from orbit all across the globe.” “Even an outdoor BBQ can be too hot to handle.” Etymology
From Middle English handel, handle, from Old English handle (“handle”), from Proto-West Germanic *handulā (“handle”). See verb below. Cognate with German Hantel (“dumbbell, barbell”), Danish handel (“handle”). Related to hand.
From Middle English handlen, from Old English handlian (“to handle, feel, deal with, discuss”), from Proto-West Germanic handulōn, from Proto-Germanic handulōną (“to take, grip, feel”), equivalent to hand + -le. Cognate with West Frisian handelje, hanneljen, hanljen (“to handle, treat”), Dutch handelen (“to handle, deal, act, negotiate”), German handeln (“to act, trade, negotiate, behave”), Swedish handla (“to buy, trade, deal”), Icelandic höndla (“to handle”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
Related words
Idioms
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/handle
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0