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manage

v.
US //ˈmænədʒ// UK //mˈænɪdʒ// man·age
  1. 1 to lead a business or team (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to be in charge of a business, a shop, or a group of people at work.

    to exercise executive, administrative, or supervisory control over an organisation, department, or team.

    Example

    She was promoted last year and now manages a team of ten people.

    Example

    After years of working in the kitchen, he was finally appointed to manage the entire restaurant operation, including staffing and procurement.
  2. 2 to handle a situation or resource (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to control or deal with something like time, money, or a difficult problem.

    to handle, monitor, or influence the use of resources or the progression of a specific situation.

    Example

    It can be hard to manage your time when you have many different projects.

    Example

    The financial advisor helped the family manage their investments more effectively during the period of market volatility.
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  1. 3 to succeed despite difficulty (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to be able to do something even though it is difficult or you are tired.

    to succeed in accomplishing a task or surviving a situation despite obstacles or limited means.

    Example

    I was very tired, but I managed to finish my homework before bed.

    Example

    Despite the heavy snow and the late hour, the hikers managed to reach the mountain shelter before the storm intensified.

    Usage

    Often used with 'to' followed by an infinitive verb.
    Pitfall
    I managed finishing the report on time.
    I managed to finish the report on time.

    When 'manage' means to succeed in doing something, it must be followed by 'to' and the infinitive, not the -ing form.

  2. 4 to cope without help (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to deal with a situation alone without needing extra help.

    to function or carry on sufficiently without external assistance or additional resources.

    Example

    Don't worry about me; I can manage on my own for a few days.

    Example

    The elderly woman insisted she could manage in her own home, provided the social workers visited twice a week to assist with heavy chores.

    Usage

    Often used intransitively to describe a person's general state of coping.
  3. 5 to produce a small reaction (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to produce a small smile or a few words when you are feeling upset or embarrassed.

    to produce a specific verbal or facial expression with visible effort, often while suppressed by emotion.

    Example

    He was very sad, but he managed a small smile for his friends.

    Example

    Exhausted by the long interrogation, the witness could only manage a few whispered words in response to the lawyer's final question.
Origin

From Early Modern English manage, menage, from Middle English manage, menage, from Old French manege (“the handling or training of a horse, horsemanship, riding, maneuvers, proceedings”), probably from Old Italian maneggiare (“to handle, manage, touch, treat”), from Vulgar Latin *manizāre (“handle”), from Latin manus (“hand”) + -izāre (verb-forming suffix). Doublet of manège. Compare typologically English handle; Russian руководи́ть (rukovodítʹ) (< рука́ (ruká)).

Word family

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