manage

SayMAN-ij/ˈmænədʒ/UK/ˈmænɪdʒ/

12 meanings of manage

1
lead peopleverbtransitive
To be in charge of a group, business, or activity.
Like a captain who directs the whole crew of a ship.
She manages a team of twelve engineers.
Good leaders manage their staff with patience and fairness.
Similarrun, direct, lead, head, supervise
2
succeed somehowverbintransitive
To be able to do something hard, or to get by, even with little money or help.
Like crossing a river by jumping from stone to stone: tricky, but you get across.
However bad things got, they always managed in the end.
I don't earn much, but somehow I manage.
3
verbtransitive
To deal with a situation or job and keep it under control.
Like steering a boat so it stays on course even in rough water.
A good nurse can manage an emergency without panicking.
I can manage the project on my own.
Similarhandle, control
4
do something sillyverbironicintransitive
To end up doing something silly or bad that you could have avoided.
Like tripping over the only rock on a wide, empty path.
Only he could manage to spill coffee on the one clean shirt.
Somehow she managed to forget her own birthday.
UsageOften: he somehow managed to spill it. It can sound teasing or annoyed.

Less common meanings

5
say with effortverbtransitive
To say something even though it is hard because you feel shy, upset, or like laughing.
Like pushing words out through a tight throat when you are about to cry.
Between sobs, she managed a quiet thank-you.
He could barely manage a word through his laughter.
UsageSay she managed a thank-you, or he could barely manage a word.
Similarmuster
6
find timeverbtransitive
To be free to come to something, or to fit it in, at a certain time.
Can you manage Friday afternoon for the meeting?
Sorry, I can't manage this weekend, but next weekend is fine.
UsageSay can you manage Friday? or I can't manage this weekend.
Similarmake, do
7
use with skillverbtransitive
To use a tool or weapon well, with real skill.
Like an artist holding a brush: every movement controlled and sure.
She managed the heavy ax with surprising ease.
Few sailors could manage the long oars alone.
Similarwield, handle
Note
8
verbobsoletetransitive
To look after or use something carefully so it lasts.
Note
9
verbobsoletetransitive
To make something happen, often through clever planning.
in a town of war, Yet wild, the people's hearts brimful of fear, To manage private and domestic quarrel, In night, and on the court and guard of safety!
c. 1603, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”Here, manage means bring about or carry on a quarrel.
Note
10
nounarchaicuncountable
The act of controlling or being in charge of something.
the unlucky manage of this fatal brawl
c. 1591, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”Here, manage means handling or the way something was carried on.
Young men, in the conduct and manage of actions, embrace more than they can hold.
1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Youth and Age”
Note
11
verb
To train a horse to move in a graceful, controlled way.
12
nounarchaic
The art of training and riding horses, or the area used for it.
You must draw [the horse] in his career with his manage, and turn, doing the corvetto, leaping &c..
1622, Henry Peacham (Jr.), The Compleat Gentleman

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Old French "manege," which meant handling or training a horse. This probably came from Old Italian "maneggiare" (to handle), and ultimately from Latin "manus," meaning "hand."

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Manage comes from Old French manege. en.wiktionary.org
Old French manege meant handling or training a horse. en.wiktionary.org
Manege probably came from Old Italian maneggiare, meaning to handle. en.wiktionary.org
The word ultimately derives from Latin manus, meaning hand. en.wiktionary.org