v. man·aged, man·ag·ing, man·ag·es v.tr. 1. a. To have charge of; direct or administer: manage a company; manage a portfolio of assets. See Synonyms at conduct. b. To exert control over; regulate or limit toward a desired end: manage the news to minimize political repercussions; managed smokestack emissions. c. To direct or supervise (employees or other staff): She manages 20 people in the department. d. To act as the manager of (a performer, for example). 2. To succeed in accomplishing, achieving, or producing, especially with difficulty: managed to get a promotion; managed a polite goodbye. 3. To succeed in coping or dealing with: a drug that improves patients' ability to manage their disease. v.intr. 1. To direct or conduct business affairs. 2. To continue to get along; carry on; cope: learning how to manage on my own. [Italian maneggiare, from Vulgar Latin *manidiāre, from Latin manus, hand; see man-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.