manoeuvre

Pluralmanoeuvres

Formsmanoeuvres, manoeuvring, manoeuvred

1. 1
   driving or flyingnouncountable

   A controlled movement made in steering a vehicle, especially one that calls for skill.

   The examiner watched closely as she carried out the turn-in-the-road manoeuvre.

   A series of tight manoeuvres brought the tanker safely past the harbour wall.

   UsageUsually you make, carry out or perform a manoeuvre.

2. 2
   verbtransitive or intransitive

   To physically move something, such as a car or a heavy object, or to move yourself, carefully into a particular position, often with some difficulty.

   Two removal men tried to manoeuvre the piano up the narrow staircase.

   The ferry manoeuvred carefully into its berth as the wind picked up.

   UsageUsually followed by a word for where: manoeuvre the piano up the stairs, the ferry into its berth.

   Similarmove, ease, edge, navigate

3. 3
   sly movenouncountable

   A cleverly planned or cunning action, usually meant to outwit others or gain an advantage.

   Analysts saw the takeover bid as a defensive manoeuvre to keep rivals out of the market.

   Her sudden friendliness looked like a manoeuvre to win the committee's votes.

   UsageUsually with a word saying what kind or what for: a political manoeuvre, a defensive manoeuvre, a manoeuvre to win votes.

   Similarploy, tactic, move, ruse, stratagem

   Note

   The scheming sense was already in use by Frances Burney's Cecilia (1782), where one character sees through a plan of the heroine's guardian Mr Harrel and calls it "a manœuvre I have been some time expecting".

4. 4
   militarynouncountable

   A planned movement of troops, vehicles or other forces, or a strategic change of position; also, a large training exercise carried out in the field by fighting units.

   A flanking manoeuvre at dawn caught the defenders completely off guard.

   Tanks churned up the fields during joint manoeuvres on Salisbury Plain.

   UsageFor training exercises usually plural: an army goes on manoeuvres. One movement often has its kind in front: a flanking manoeuvre.

   Similarmovement, exercise, operation

   Note

   British spelling keeps the French oe and the -re ending; American English writes maneuver.

5. 5
   nouncountable

   A movement made with the body or with a tool or instrument, particularly a skilful or deft one.

   With one quick manoeuvre of the knife, the chef lifted the bone out cleanly.

   The goalkeeper's acrobatic manoeuvres kept the score level until half-time.

   Similarmovement, motion

   Note

   The meaning closest to the word's roots: through French it goes back to Medieval Latin manopera, "work done by hand", from manu "by hand" and operari "to work". Old French manovre still meant plain manual labour. Here a manoeuvre is again a matter of hands, tools and the body: a deft turn of a knife, an acrobatic save. Source

   Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

   • Manoeuvre comes through French from Medieval Latin manopera, meaning work done by hand. en.wiktionary.org
   • The Latin components are manu, meaning by hand, and operari, meaning to work. en.wiktionary.org
   • Old French manovre meant manual labour. en.wiktionary.org
6. 6
   verbfigurativelytransitive or intransitive

   To use clever and often crafty methods to steer people or events towards the result you want, or to gain an advantage.

   Rival factions began to manoeuvre for position as soon as the leader announced she would step down.

   While the others argued openly, she manoeuvred behind the scenes and won the chair.

   UsageOften manoeuvre for position or power; with a person, manoeuvre someone into or out of something: manoeuvred him into resigning.

   Similarjockey, scheme, steer

7. 7
   medicalnouncountable

   A specific movement or physical technique used in medical examination or treatment, often named after a person.

   When the baby's shoulder became stuck during the birth, the obstetrician performed a standard manoeuvre, bending the mother's knees up towards her chest to free it.

   Obstetricians are trained in several manoeuvres for freeing a baby whose shoulder is stuck.

   UsageUsually you perform a manoeuvre; one named after a person takes a capital: the Epley manoeuvre.

   Similarprocedure

   Note

   Medicine names many of its manoeuvres after a person, with a capital letter: the Epley manoeuvre, for instance, relieves a kind of vertigo.

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