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

Inflected Forms

Participles

• managing
  present
• managed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• manage
  simple
• manages
  simple
• have managed
  perfect
• has managed
  perfect
• am managing
  progressive
• are managing
  progressive
• is managing
  progressive
• have been managing
  perfect progressive
• has been managing
  perfect progressive

Past

• managed
  simple
• had managed
  perfect
• was managing
  progressive
• were managing
  progressive
• had been managing
  perfect progressive

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

See Examples For:

manage manages managed managing

A parent or legal guardian can open and manage an account on the minor’s behalf, or a probate court can appoint a guardian or conservator, or set up a restricted account, depending on state law.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

"We can manage it. It doesn't destroy profitability," he said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

With my spouse recently passing away, I am increasingly concerned that I may not be able to manage the property and its expenses alone.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

Cardiff Council added that it had "robust and well-established" plans to manage asbestos in its buildings.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

But perhaps that was the lesson Clare had needed to learn: The wise Afterlife knew it would not be a difficult ushering and trusted that Clare could manage it.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

The three insurers Aquarian already owns and the funds it manages control about $27 billion, making Brighthouse’s $131 billion in assets a transformative prize.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

Neil MacDonald manages more than 1,000 acres of cider orchards across Somerset.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

Asked about the detentions, China's foreign ministry said Beijing "manages religious affairs in accordance with the law".

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

Your other option, given that the sum is $10 million, is to set up an irrevocable trust that manages distributions.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026

So around December 10, Jo goes to Montmartre, Theo’s neighborhood, and manages to run into him.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

Through a complicated set of moves, we managed to achieve the celebrated “perfect soft landing.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

I had moved from Buenos Aires to Los Angeles, and somehow managed to make a living writing about Latin music.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

Subramanian noted record underweight positions in financials among actively managed funds and light exposure across other value segments.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

Social housing provides affordable homes at a low cost, managed by social landlords.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

Unlike the other two, though, they’d managed to not only find their agent, but also to catch the Butterfly.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Although insulin therapy is essential for managing the condition, people with Type 1 diabetes can still develop heart disease at an earlier age because persistently high blood sugar can damage blood vessels.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026

But he also didn’t rule out the possibility that USC may be managing the situation throughout this season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

Walter and others copied the idea, betting they could invest the capital for more than they had to pay policyholders, pocketing the difference and fees they collected for managing the money.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

“The AI revolution is not going away, even though it has challenges,” said James Pruskowski, managing director at Hennion & Walsh Asset Management.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

He traveled extensively, grabbed naps in airports, and, usually managing to find a computer, stayed in touch with old friends while making new ones.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

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