maneuver

especially British, ma·noeu·vre

[muh-noo-ver]

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

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

/ məˈnuːvə /

noun

1. the usual US spelling of manoeuvre

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of maneuver¹

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

Example Sentences

But it was Kahn, the trusted accountant, and Indyke, the loyal lawyer, who kept the engine running for years with their financial and legal maneuvers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Yet the new deduction is adding extra justification for the maneuver in the coming couple years, he said: “This makes a good idea even better.”

Read more on MarketWatch

The rapid spin and tiny size mean that performing a touchdown maneuver, in which the spacecraft briefly makes contact with the surface, will be more difficult than mission teams originally expected.

Read more on Science Daily

Ackman, long a fan of creative financial maneuvers, is now pursuing what would amount to simultaneous offerings of both, the people said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In addition to learning different maneuvers, massage students practiced projecting their voices to deny unwanted advances and to call for help.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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