manage

American  

[man-ij] / ˈmæn ɪdʒ /

verb (used with object)

manages, present (3rd person singular) managed, past participle, past managing present participle

1. to bring about or succeed in accomplishing, sometimes despite difficulty or hardship.

   She managed to see the governor. How does she manage it on such a small income?

   Synonyms:

   contrive, arrange

2. to take charge or care of.

   to manage my investments.

3. to dominate or influence (a person) by tact, flattery, or artifice.

   He manages the child with exemplary skill.

4. to handle, direct, govern, or control in action or use.

   She managed the boat efficiently.

   Synonyms:

   engineer, regulate, conduct, guide

5. to wield (a weapon, tool, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   manipulate, handle

6. to handle or train (a horse) in the exercises of the manège.

7. Archaic. to use sparingly or with judgment, as health or money; husband.

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verb (used without object)

manages, present (3rd person singular) managed, past participle, past managing present participle

1. to conduct business, commercial affairs, etc.; be in charge.

   Who will manage while the boss is away?

2. to continue to function, progress, or succeed, usually despite hardship or difficulty; get along.

   How will he manage with his wife gone? It was a rough time, but we managed.

manage British  

/ ˈmænɪdʒ /

verb

1. (also intr) to be in charge (of); administer

   to manage one's affairs

   to manage a shop

2. to succeed in being able (to do something) despite obstacles; contrive

   did you manage to go to sleep?

3. to have room, time, etc, for

   can you manage dinner tomorrow?

4. to exercise control or domination over, often in a tactful or guileful manner

5. (intr) to contrive to carry on despite difficulties, esp financial ones

   he managed quite well on very little money

6. to wield or handle (a weapon)

7. rare to be frugal in the use of

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noun

1. an archaic word for manège

Synonym Usage

See rule.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• overmanage
  verb (used with object)
• quasi-managed
  adjective
• unmanaged
  adjective
• well-managed
  adjective
• self-managing
  adjective
• undermanage
  verb (used with object)
• undermanaged
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have managed
  perfect
• has managed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have been managing
  perfect progressive
• is managing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been managing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• managing
  participle
• are managing
  progressive
• am managing
  progressive 1st person singular
• manages
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had managed
  perfect
• had been managing
  perfect progressive
• managed
  participle
• were managing
  progressive plural
• managed
  simple
• was managing
  progressive singular

Future

• will manage
  simple
• will have managed
  perfect
• will be managing
  progressive
• will have been managing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of manage

First recorded in 1555–65; earlier manege, from Italian maneggiare “to handle, train (horses),” derivative of mano, from Latin manus “hand”

Explanation

To manage is to skillfully handle something. If you can barely manage to keep your goldfish alive, you should probably think twice about adopting those Golden Retriever puppies. The verb manage also means to supervise or oversee either things or people at work. You might manage six people at the donut shop, even though you've only worked there for four months. If you carefully manage your donut shop earnings, you should be able to buy that new car next year. Manage also means to cope with or come to terms with. It might seem scary to go to college in another state, but I know you'll manage.

Example Sentences

How do professional athletes manage to be friends while competing for the sport's biggest prizes?

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

Enterprise service management provides a coordinated way to plan, manage, and deliver communications services for multiple missions through a shared software framework.

From Science Daily • Jun. 6, 2026

Companies like Life360, Affirm, and Corning are implementing strategies to manage AI spending and token consumption.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

“They had to learn how to manage robots, not put the vehicles together. The same questions we’re asking now.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026

How would the rest of us manage here if he couldn’t get back?

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Related Words

• administer
• conduct
• dominate
• govern
• guide
• handle
• maintain
• operate
• oversee
• regulate
• run
• supervise
• take care of
• take over
• train
• use