handle

1 to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently as host of a live TV talk show, she must handle any situation that comes up Synonyms address, contend (with), cope (with), field, grapple (with), hack, manage, maneuver, manipulate, negotiate, play, swing, take, treat Related Words engineer, finesse, jockey; bring off, carry off, carry out, get off, pull; command, direct, guide, steer; control, micromanage, regulate, run; react (to), respond (to) Phrases come to grips with, have a grip on Near Antonyms botch, bungle, foozle, fumble, goof (up), louse up, mess (up), mishandle, muff, scamp

2 to behave toward in a stated way handles all requests professionally, even when customers are rude Synonyms act (toward), be (to), deal (with), treat, serve, useRelated Words consider, esteem, rate, reckon, regard, view; engage (with), react (to), respond (to)

3 to control the mechanical operation of learned how to handle basic woodworking power tools Synonyms operate, run, workRelated Words use; maneuver, manipulate, ply, wield; command, control, direct, drive, guide, pilot, steer

4 to look after and make decisions about she takes care of the flower beds, and he handles all the lawn care Synonyms administer, administrate, carry on, control, direct, govern, guide, conduct, keep, manage, operate, overlook, oversee, preside (over), regulate, run, steward, superintend, supervise, tendRelated Words care (for), mind, watch; lead, pilot, steer; guard, protect, safeguard; micromanage, stage-manage; codirect, comanage

5 to put up with (something painful or difficult) I can't handle much more of this foul weather Synonyms abide, absorb, accept, bide [chiefly dialect], brook, countenance, endure, go, hack, bear, meet, pocket, stand, stick out, stomach, support, sustain, sweat out, take, tolerate, wear [British]Related Words allow, permit, suffer, swallow; reconcile (to); acquiesce, agree (with or to), assent (to), capitulate, consent (to), respect, submit (to), yield (to)Near Antonyms decline, dismiss, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn, turn down; combat, contest, fight, oppose, resist; avoid, bypass, circumvent, dodge, elude, escape, evade, miss; abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from)

6 to be in charge of I'll be handling the team's workouts while the leader is on vacation Synonyms captain, boss, head, overlook, oversee, quarterback, superintend, superviseRelated Words administer, command, control, direct, guide, manage, order, run, shepherd, show, steer; monitor, preside (over); govern, reign, rule