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
1
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."
"My aunt manages a bakery on the high street."
2
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."
"I just about managed to finish the essay before midnight."
3
To handle or cope with a situation, resource, or problem.
"The nurse helped him manage his pain with a new medication schedule."
"How do you manage with so little sleep every night?"
"Families can manage rising bills by planning their spending carefully each month."
How to use manage
Learner’s notesIn 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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like manage.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- manages
- Past tense
- managed
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.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for manage
See all rhymes for manage →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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include manage:
