manually
Americanadverb
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by hand or using one’s hands.
The power source must include a manually operated switch device or circuit breaker.
Even the entry-level model comes with dual-zone climate control, manually adjustable front seats, and Bluetooth connectivity.
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using or requiring human effort, input, skill, power, etc..
Data extraction was originally done manually, requiring significant resources to complete the tedious task.
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Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of manually
Explanation
Something that's done manually is done by hand, rather than by machine. If the recycling you leave by the curb is sorted manually, people divide it by hand into metal, plastic, glass, and paper. When you dig a hole manually, you use a shovel and the strength of your own arms and back. The opposite of this is when something's done automatically, by machine or some automated system. The adverb manually comes from the adjective manual, or "done with the hands," from the Latin root word manus, which means "hand, strength, or power over."
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.
The Ethiopian authorities' 2019 report suggested the pilots followed steps to disengage the system, but even after manually trying to steady the plane, the system pushed the nose down until the aircraft crashed.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
The software also sends reminder emails and phone alerts to prompt people to keep up with categorizing transactions that are automatically pulled in or inputting new ones manually.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
It also highlights how artificial intelligence can be used to process enormous volumes of satellite data that would be difficult to examine manually.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 3, 2026
"On the fuselage, everything is done manually, so every hole, every rivet you see on the fuselage is being done manually," Operations Director Victor Ocadiz told AFP.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
The operator would pick up the phone and manually route the call to your house.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
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.
