manage

[man-ij]

verb (used with object)

managed, managing 

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.

verb (used without object)

managed, managing 

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

/ 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

noun

1. an archaic word for manège

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of manage¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of manage¹

C16: from Italian maneggiare to control, train (esp horses), ultimately from Latin manus hand

Synonym Study

See rule.

Example Sentences

Lord Roy Kennedy, who as chief whip is responsible for managing the government's legislative programme in the upper chamber, told peers government time would not be allocated to the bill.

Read more on BBC

If they manage that, it will be only the third time England have ended a year with a 90% or better win percentage since the start of the 20th Century.

Read more on BBC

And bring your bills, your credit-card statements, your school forms, the streaming services you need to unsubscribe from, the airline miles you need to manage, the expenses app you need to figure out.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Leonard Green manages about $75 billion in assets, according to its website.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Previous findings have inferred that they exist, or hinted at their presence, but haven't actually confirmed that material has definitively escaped out into space. We've now managed to do this for the first time."

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

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