- a variation of maneuver.
manoeuvre
Americannoun
noun
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a contrived, complicated, and possibly deceptive plan or action
political manoeuvres
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a movement or action requiring dexterity and skill
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a tactic or movement of one or a number of military or naval units
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(plural) tactical exercises, usually on a large scale
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a planned movement of an aircraft in flight
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any change from the straight steady course of a ship
verb
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(tr) to contrive or accomplish with skill or cunning
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(intr) to manipulate situations, etc, in order to gain some end
to manoeuvre for the leadership
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(intr) to perform a manoeuvre or manoeuvres
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to move or deploy or be moved or deployed, as military units, etc
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of manoeuvre
C15: from French, from Medieval Latin manuopera manual work, from Latin manū operāre to work with the hand
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There will be some hand-holding as you manoeuvre through the overwhelming crowds.
From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026
Addressing Willetts, she said: "You deliberately made a decision to ignore the rules of the road," adding that he had carried out "a highly dangerous manoeuvre" by riding the wrong way around the roundabout.
From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026
That should allow more room for manoeuvre on very hot days.
From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026
BIS is also calling on governments to reduce their debt levels to help preserve central banks' room for manoeuvre in the case of economic shocks.
From Barron's • Jun. 28, 2026
He had seemed to oppose the windmill, simply as a manoeuvre to get rid of Snowball, who was a dangerous character and a bad influence.
From "Animal Farm: A Fairy Story" by George Orwell
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.