# manage

/ˈmænədʒ/ (US) · /mˈænɪdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/manage
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to lead a business or team

verb · CEFR A2

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

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

- She was promoted last year and now manages a team of ten people.
- After years of working in the kitchen, he was finally appointed to manage the entire restaurant operation, including staffing and procurement.

### 2. to handle a situation or resource

verb · CEFR B1

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

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

- It can be hard to manage your time when you have many different projects.
- The financial advisor helped the family manage their investments more effectively during the period of market volatility.

### 3. to succeed despite difficulty

verb · CEFR A2

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

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

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

### 4. to cope without help

verb · CEFR B1

to deal with a situation alone without needing extra help.

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

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

### 5. to produce a small reaction

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- He was very sad, but he managed a small smile for his friends.
- Exhausted by the long interrogation, the witness could only manage a few whispered words in response to the lawyer's final question.

## Examples

- She always manages to find the best deals online.
- After the previous director resigned, David stepped up to manage the sales department and guide the team through the transition.
- Despite severe budget constraints and a shrinking timeline, the engineering division managed to deliver the software update without compromising on core security features.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.