noun
handle
HAN-dl
noun
1
The part of an object that is designed to be gripped by hand.
"The handle on the old suitcase finally snapped."
"Turn the door handle slowly so it doesn't creak."
2
A username or nickname someone uses online or over radio.
"Her Twitter handle is different from her real name."
verb
1
To touch, hold, or manage something with the hands.
"Please handle the artwork carefully; it's fragile."
"She handled the negotiations herself."
2
To deal with or cope with a situation, person, or emotion.
"He didn't know how to handle the bad news."
"She handles stress remarkably well."
How to Use Handle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe part you grip on an object, an online username, or (as a verb) to manage, touch, or deal with something.
Common pairings
handle with care
handle the situation
a door handle
social media handle
Word Forms
handled past tense, handles plural, handles singular
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The _____ on the old suitcase finally snapped.
Etymology
From Old English handle, related to "hand" — originally the part of a tool meant to be held.