manually
Americanadverb
-
by hand or using one’s hands.
The power source must include a manually operated switch device or circuit breaker.
Even the entry-level model comes with dual-zone climate control, manually adjustable front seats, and Bluetooth connectivity.
-
using or requiring human effort, input, skill, power, etc..
Data extraction was originally done manually, requiring significant resources to complete the tedious task.
If you prefer that your information not be collected for the purpose of delivering targeted advertising, you have to manually opt out by clicking here.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of manually
Explanation
Something that's done manually is done by hand, rather than by machine. If the recycling you leave by the curb is sorted manually, people divide it by hand into metal, plastic, glass, and paper. When you dig a hole manually, you use a shovel and the strength of your own arms and back. The opposite of this is when something's done automatically, by machine or some automated system. The adverb manually comes from the adjective manual, or "done with the hands," from the Latin root word manus, which means "hand, strength, or power over."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We then manually checked that each report had been assigned to the correct group, leaving us with 300 unique incidents.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
Gas continued to leak from the ship for 12 minutes before the crew realised what was happening and were able to close the valve manually.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
The water level monitoring station for the lake is now so far out of the remaining basin that Durig does the measurements manually.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
Once I manually logged in, it made the reservations while I made lunch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
It enabled more people in more places to design, display, manage, and collaborate on business data previously handled manually.
From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
