handling

noun

han·​dling ˈhan-dᵊl-iŋ 

ˈhan(d)-liŋ

1

a

: the action of one that handles something

b

: a process by which something is handled in a commercial transaction

especially : the packaging and shipping of an object or material (as to a consumer)

2

: the manner in which something is treated (as in a musical, literary, or art work)

Synonyms

• administration
• care
• charge
• conduct
• control
• direction
• governance
• government
• guidance
• intendance
• management
• operation
• oversight
• presidency
• regulation
• running
• stewardship
• superintendence
• superintendency
• supervision

Examples of handling in a Sentence

These items require careful handling.

There are additional charges for shipping and handling.

The car's handling was smooth.

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump was irate after agents served a search warrant on Mar-A-Lago in 2022 in an investigation over the former president’s handling of classified documents. —Ted Johnson, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2024

But in August, the VII Group conspicuously failed to live up to that symbol in its handling of a five-day foreign tour of the Bahamas for George Mason’s men’s basketball team. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 11 Dec. 2024

Trump and other Republicans have criticized Fauci, who was the face of the first Trump and Biden administration’s response against COVID-19, over his handling of the pandemic. —Tara Suter, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024

Wray has since come under fire from Trump and his allies on Capitol Hill over the FBI's handling of investigations into the president-elect. —Robert Legare, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing handling

• shipping and handling
• special handling