maneuver

especially British, ma·noeu·vre

[muh-noo-ver]

noun

1. a planned and regulated movement or evolution of troops, warships, etc.

2. maneuvers, a series of tactical exercises usually carried out in the field by large bodies of troops in simulating the conditions of war.

3. an act or instance of changing the direction of a moving ship, vehicle, etc., as required.

4. an adroit move, skillful proceeding, etc., especially as characterized by craftiness; ploy.

   political maneuvers.

   Synonyms: plan, plot, scheme, procedure, artifice, ruse, tactic, stratagem

verb (used with object)

maneuvered, maneuvering 

1. to change the position of (troops, ships, etc.) by a maneuver.

2. to bring, put, drive, or make by maneuvers.

   He maneuvered his way into the confidence of the enemy.

   Synonyms: intrigue, contrive, scheme

3. to manipulate or manage with skill or adroitness.

   to maneuver a conversation.

   Synonyms: finesse, handle

4. to steer in various directions as required.

verb (used without object)

maneuvered, maneuvering 

1. to perform a maneuver or maneuvers.

2. to scheme; intrigue.

   Synonyms: plan, plot

maneuver

/ məˈnuːvə /

noun

1. the usual US spelling of manoeuvre

Other Word Forms

• maneuvering noun
• maneuverable adjective
• maneuverability noun
• maneuverer noun
• unmaneuvered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of maneuver¹

First recorded in 1470–80 for an earlier sense; 1750–60 for current noun sense; from French manoeuvre, Middle French manuevre “handwork,” derivative of Old French manuvrer, from Latin manū operāre “to do handwork,” equivalent to manū (ablative of manus “hand”) + operāre “to work” ( operate ); replacing earlier maanorre “manual labor,” Middle French, as above

Example Sentences

The pilots signaled for emergency landing maneuvers; her life flashed before her eyes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Call that what it is: a defensive maneuver, not conviction.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Large-scale maneuvering remains nearly impossible on a battlefield where masses of cheap drones can see and target movement by soldiers or vehicles.

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The boats were rejecting commands and were unable to reliably maneuver away from other traffic, prompting a safety stand-down, according to people familiar with the exercise.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Volunteers practice maneuvering the giants around obstacles and learn the lay-down-and-writhe strategy for quick deflation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• action 
• gimmick 
• manipulation 
• measure 
• movement 
• plot 
• ploy 
• procedure 
• ruse 
• scheme 
• step 
• stunt 
• trick