handle
verb/ˈhændl/
/ˈhændl/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they handle | /ˈhændl/ /ˈhændl/ |
| he / she / it handles | /ˈhændlz/ /ˈhændlz/ |
| past simple handled | /ˈhændld/ /ˈhændld/ |
| past participle handled | /ˈhændld/ /ˈhændld/ |
| -ing form handling | /ˈhændlɪŋ/ /ˈhændlɪŋ/ |
- [transitive] to deal with a situation, a person, an area of work or a strong emotion
- handle something/somebody A new man was appointed to handle the crisis.
- She's very good at handling her patients.
- to handle a situation/case
- He decided to handle things himself.
- This matter has been handled very badly.
- The sale was handled by Adams Commercial.
- We can handle up to 500 calls an hour at our new offices.
- We all have to learn to handle stress.
- (informal) ‘Any problems?’ ‘Nothing I can't handle.’
- (informal) I've got to go. I can't handle it any more (= deal with a difficult situation).
- handle yourself (informal) You have to know how to handle yourself in this business (= know the right way to behave).
Extra Examples- He wasn't mentally equipped to handle this situation.
- Her next question was not so easily handled.
- Large meetings are notoriously less productive and more difficult to handle.
- She knew how to handle publicity.
- The library routinely handles a wide variety of enquiries.
- This issue may need to be handled carefully.
- This was a problem that I just couldn't handle.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- competently
- efficiently
- properly
- …
- be able to
- be unable to
- can
- …
- with
- [transitive] handle something to touch, hold or move something with your hands
- Our cat hates being handled.
- The label on the box said: ‘Fragile. Handle with care.’
Extra Examples- Garden tools can be hazardous if carelessly handled.
- Many of the prisoners were roughly handled; some were killed.
- He ran through the details of loading and handling the gun.
- The books are ancient, and need to be handled very carefully.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- carefully
- with care
- carelessly
- …
- [transitive] handle something to control a vehicle, an animal, a tool, etc.
- I wasn't sure if I could handle such a powerful car.
- She's a difficult horse to handle.
Extra Examples- The car is heavy and quite difficult to handle
- He doesn't really know how to handle a glider safely yet.
- Riders have to learn how to handle their machines in all conditions.
- [intransitive] handle well/badly to be easy/difficult to drive or control
- The car handles well in any weather.
- [transitive] handle something to buy or sell something synonym deal in
- They were arrested for handling stolen goods.
deal with
touch with hands
control
buy/sell
Word OriginOld English handle (noun), handlian (verb), from hand.
Check pronunciation:
handle