ENGLISH
REFERENCE

manages

v.
A2 Elementary US //ˈmænɪdʒɪz// UK //mˈænɪdʒɪz// man·ages

v. to succeed in doing something, especially when it is difficult. You also use it when you talk about being in charge of a business or a team.

v. to succeed in accomplishing a task, often despite difficulty or limited resources; to maintain control or direction of an organization or group. Transitive when followed by a direct object or a 'to-infinitive' clause.


SIMPLE

She manages to finish her work on time every day.

CONTEXTUAL

Even with a very small budget, the team manages to produce high-quality research every year.

COMPLEX

The director manages a diverse portfolio of international projects while ensuring that each local branch adheres to the company's core safety protocols and ethical standards.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

When meaning 'to succeed', it is typically followed by a 'to-infinitive'. When meaning 'to supervise', it takes a direct noun object.

Pitfall

She manages finishing the projectShe manages to finish the projectWhen expressing success in a task, the verb must be followed by 'to' plus the infinitive, not the -ing form.

© 2026 English Reference