maneuver

American  

[muh-noo-ver] / məˈnu vər /

especially British, manoeuvre

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

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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 British  

/ məˈnuːvə /

noun

1. the usual US spelling of manoeuvre

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of maneuver

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” ( see operate); replacing earlier maanorre “manual labor,” Middle French, as above

Explanation

You maneuver your way through a crowd, a bureaucracy, traffic, or traffic cones. You can maneuver a car or a piece of machinery. Army maneuvers are highly coordinated movements of troops, supplies and machinery. If you're wondering if the opposite of maneuver is woman-euver, wonder no further. It isn't. Although maneuvering often involves a man on the move, the man- comes from the Latin manus meaning "hand." Maneuver reached English via the French manœuvre meaning "tactical movement" — an interesting maneuver in its own right.

Example Sentences

During a planned roll maneuver on Feb. 27, Voyager 1 experienced an unexpected drop in power.

From Science Daily • May 4, 2026

Then, on Saturday, Lai flipped the script, announcing on social media that, after a clandestine maneuver, he had arrived.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

He also shared details on the season’s themes, other key cast members and how the production plans to maneuver around tourists.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026

That accounting maneuver can turbocharge the early returns reported by the continuation fund to its investors — who have no idea that these returns reflect clever accounting instead of investment skill.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026

He gets out of the backseat while I maneuver out of the front, and he holds the door open for me.

From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen

Related Words

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