verb A2 Elementary Common

manage

MAN-ihj

Manage (verb) means to be in charge of running something, such as a business, team, or project. Example: “She manages a small team of designers.”

verb

To be in charge of running something, such as a business, team, or project.

"She manages a small team of designers."

"He's managed this restaurant for over a decade."

To succeed in doing something, especially something difficult.

"Somehow he managed to fix the leak before the plumber arrived."

"We managed to catch the last train home."

To handle or cope with a situation, resource, or problem.

"The nurse helped him manage his pain with a new medication schedule."

How to use manage

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo be in charge of something, or to succeed at doing something despite difficulty.

Common mistake

"Manage to" implies effort or difficulty — "I managed to finish" suggests it wasn't easy, unlike the neutral "I finished."

Common pairings

manage a team manage to survive manage your time barely manage

Word forms

managed past tense, manages singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ a small team of designers.

Etymology

From Old French manege ("horse training, horsemanship"), from Italian maneggiare ("to handle"), ultimately from Latin manus, "hand." The oldest sense was literally about handling horses; "being in charge of" and "coping with" are later extensions.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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run oversee direct supervise administer head control do care deal handle cope

Related words

do care power head run service control deal

Rhymes for manage

age wage cage page rage gage sage mage usage image stage adage

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Frequently asked questions

What does “manage” mean?

The word “manage” means to be in charge of running something, such as a business, team, or project. In plain terms, to be in charge of something, or to succeed at doing something despite difficulty.

How do you pronounce “manage”?

“Manage” is pronounced MAN-ihj (/ˈmæn.ɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).

How do you use “manage” in a sentence?

Here is “manage” used in a sentence: “She manages a small team of designers.”

What part of speech is “manage”?

“Manage” is a verb.

Where does the word “manage” come from?

The word “manage” comes from Latin.

Is “manage” a common word?

“Manage” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “manage” have?

“Manage” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to be in charge of running something, such as a business, team, or project.

What is the difference between manage and lead?

'Manage' means to run and organise something — handling the resources, processes, and day-to-day operations of a business, team, or project. 'Lead' focuses on setting direction and inspiring people to follow. A good manager keeps things running smoothly; a good leader motivates and guides. Many strong people do both.

Can managing be learned?

Yes. While some people have natural aptitude, management is largely a skill built through experience, training, and study. Planning, delegating, communicating, and handling budgets can all be taught and improved. Many people take courses or earn qualifications in management, which shows it is widely treated as a learnable discipline.

Does 'manage' only mean being a boss?

No. Besides running a business or team, 'manage' also means to succeed in doing something difficult, or to cope — 'she managed to finish on time', or 'he's managing despite the stress'. In this sense it means handling a challenge or getting by, rather than supervising other people.

What is an example of 'manage' in a sentence?

'She manages a team of twelve' shows the sense of being in charge. 'He manages the family finances' shows organising something. 'They managed to escape' shows the coping sense. Each reflects taking control of a task, resource, or difficult situation and handling it successfully.

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