maneuver

[ muh-noo-ver ]

/ məˈnu vər /

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See synonyms for: maneuver / maneuvered / maneuvering / maneuvers on Thesaurus.com

noun

a planned and regulated movement or evolution of troops, warships, etc.

maneuvers, a series of tactical exercises usually carried out in the field by large bodies of troops in simulating the conditions of war.

an act or instance of changing the direction of a moving ship, vehicle, etc., as required.

an adroit move, skillful proceeding, etc., especially as characterized by craftiness; ploy: political maneuvers.

verb (used with object), ma·neu·vered, ma·neu·ver·ing.

to change the position of (troops, ships, etc.) by a maneuver.

to bring, put, drive, or make by maneuvers: He maneuvered his way into the confidence of the enemy.

to manipulate or manage with skill or adroitness: to maneuver a conversation.

to steer in various directions as required.

verb (used without object), ma·neu·vered, ma·neu·ver·ing.

to perform a maneuver or maneuvers.

to scheme; intrigue.

OTHER WORDS FOR maneuver

4 stratagem, tactic, ruse, artifice; procedure, scheme, plot, plan.

6 scheme, contrive, intrigue.

7 handle, finesse.

10 plot, plan.

See synonyms for maneuver on Thesaurus.com

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Also especially British, ma·noeu·vre .

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

OTHER WORDS FROM maneuver

ma·neu·ver·a·ble, adjectivema·neu·ver·a·bil·i·ty, nounma·neu·ver·er, nounun·ma·neu·vered, adjective

How to use maneuver in a sentence

The visit culminated in a daring maneuver to scoop up a sample from the asteroid’s surface in October.
The best space stories of 2020|Charlie Wood|December 25, 2020|Popular-Science
Look at the groundbreaking technology and maneuvers involved.
SpaceX Starship Prototype Exploded, but It’s Still a Giant Leap Towards Mars|Hugh Hunt|December 17, 2020|Singularity Hub
Humans in fighter jets must contend with intense physical forces, pulling as many as 9 Gs when they execute maneuvers like a sharp, hard turn.
An AI just copiloted a U-2 spyplane for the very first time|Rob Verger|December 16, 2020|Popular-Science
After reaching an altitude of nearly eight miles, higher than most passengers will ever travel in a commercial plane, the vehicle executed its daring landing maneuver—the “belly flop”—for the first time.
SpaceX’s Starship flies, belly flops, and bursts into flames|Charlie Wood|December 10, 2020|Popular-Science

The spacecraft begins a maneuver to depart orbit and transit toward Nightingale.
A NASA spacecraft is about to scoop up some asteroid rubble|Neel Patel|October 14, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Underlying all of this legal maneuvering is the social fact that marriages are hard to undo.
Gay Marriage Chaos Begins|Jay Michaelson|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Anytime we have to put up the sail or tack or do any maneuvering, it requires all hands on deck.
Inside Sailing’s Biggest Race|Lizzie Crocker|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Albany functions better than it has in years, in part, at least, through his maneuvering to keep the GOP in power.
Andrew Cuomo Can't Ignore It Now: He's Weak Even at Home|David Freedlander|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the event Russian diplomatic maneuvering let the administration off the hook.
Obama's Iraq-Syria Dilemma: No Force Now on the Ground Can Beat ISIS|Jamie Dettmer|August 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Several Soviet-era BMD-1 armored vehicles were dug in and a T-84 tank was maneuvering in a field.
As the Key Battle Looms, a Report from Ukraine's Front Lines|Jamie Dettmer|August 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Side by side with this terrifying discovery was the certain fact that his awkwardly built craft would gain little by maneuvering.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
There was a slight risk in the action, but it was done, and after some careful maneuvering the Coral was secured in position.
Adrift on the Pacific|Edward S. Ellis
The maneuvering continued, the cruiser drawing closer to the battleship.
Space Prison|Tom Godwin
By shrewd maneuvering he arranged an expedition to the Silent Sam mine.
The Highgrader|William MacLeod Raine
Such pretty maneuvering of horse and foot took place below Holyrood Palace as quite to enrapture a terrier.
Greyfriars Bobby|Eleanor Atkinson

British Dictionary definitions for maneuver

maneuver

/ (məˈnuːvə) /

noun, verb

the usual US spelling of manoeuvre

Derived forms of maneuver

maneuverable, adjectivemaneuverability, nounmaneuverer, nounmaneuvering, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

maneuver

OTHER WORDS FOR maneuver

Origin of maneuver

OTHER WORDS FROM maneuver

Words related to maneuver

How to use maneuver in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for maneuver

Derived forms of maneuver