door handle

American  

noun

Chiefly British.

1. doorknob.

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Usage

What is a door handle? A door handle is the handle used to open and close a door. Sometimes, it means the same thing as doorknob. But the word doorknob most often specifically refers to a handle shaped like a knob—a part that sticks out and has a rounded end. Door handles in other shapes might be called doorknobs, but it’s more likely for them to be called door handles or just handles. Another difference is that doorknobs typically turn. Door handles can turn, but they can also be fixed in place, like a vertical or horizontal bar. The term door handle can also refer to the one that’s used to open a car door. Example: I went to open the door and the door handle pulled right off—apparently its screws had gotten loose.

Etymology

Origin of door handle

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

For vehicle models already approved and nearing launch, carmakers must change the door handle design by January 2029, the Chinese regulators said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

The new rules stipulate that all doors except the tailgate "shall be equipped with a mechanical release exterior door handle".

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026

Bystander videos shows one immigration officer ordering Good out of the vehicle and grabbing the door handle as another agent, Jonathan Ross, positions himself in front of her vehicle.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 15, 2026

We make eye contact, and he reaches for the door handle.

From Salon • Oct. 11, 2025

I’ve got a clencher grip on the door handle.

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper