man·u·al
ˈman-yə-wəl 
-yəl,
-yü-əl
1
a
: of, relating to, or involving the hands
manual dexterity
b
: worked or done by hand and not by machine
a manual transmission
manual computation
manual indexing
2
: requiring or using physical skill and energy
manual labor
manual workers
1
: a book that is conveniently handled
2
: the prescribed movements in the handling of a weapon or other military item during a drill or ceremony
the manual of arms
3
a
: a keyboard for the hands
specifically
: one of the several keyboards of an organ or harpsichord that controls a separate division of the instrument
b
: a device or apparatus intended for manual operation
c
: an automobile with a manual transmission
Is your car a manual or an automatic?
called also standard
Synonyms
Examples of manual in a Sentence
Adjective
She spent the summer doing manual labor on her uncle's farm.
He has a collection of old-fashioned manual typewriters.
Noun
Here's the owner's manual of your new car.
The computer program comes with a user's manual.
We lost the instruction manual and couldn't put our bikes together.
Please refer to the training manual if you have any questions about your job.
Is your car a manual or an automatic?
Recent Examples on the Web
Ned Kleiner, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
While most Americans hit the road with an automatic vehicle, there are still a few options for manual car enthusiasts.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 5 Apr. 2024
Others took umbrage at an ancient Egyptian art work depicting manual labor, which bore a caption describing how the pharaoh’s workers periodically staged strikes.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
In Santa Clara County, where a majority of the district falls, the registrar of voters estimates a manual recount would take approximately 10 days and cost $32,000 per day, for a total of $320,000.
—Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
Its weight-sensitive recline and self-adjusting headrest ensure effortless comfort, while the absence of manual controls enhances aesthetic appeal.
—Bethany Braun-Silva, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Studies have repeatedly indicated that the modern day workplace emphasizes a much higher premium on social and analytical skills, whereas physical and manual skills have increasingly faded in importance.
—Sai Balasubramanian, M.d., J.d., Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Initially, cryptocurrency transactions involved manual commands in terminals, but the evolution of user interfaces and the emergence of exchanges made digital assets more accessible.
—Tyler Shepherd, The Arizona Republic, 21 Mar. 2024
Gua Sha tools allow for lymphatic drainage as with other tools in this category, but their specific shape allows for manual contouring and massaging.
—Isabella Ubaldi, Health, 20 Mar. 2024
Trisha Thadani, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
That’s good for 556 horsepower and 551 pound-feet of twist, all funneled to the rear wheels via a Tremec six-speed manual (or an automatic with paddle shifters).
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
The league conducts two to four general trainings on open records laws a year and also produces a manual on the topic, adding that the 2016 change to the law is a focus in its trainings.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
In addition to these innovations, a new industry manual from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation requires new bridges to be designed to last for 75 years instead of 50 years.
—Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
The steam times for getting out stains are listed in the instruction manual, which varies depending on the severity.
—Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 23 Mar. 2024
The Free Enterprise Club argues certain provisions of the manual violate First Amendment free speech rights.
—Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024
With four pointed teeth made of stainless steel and a non-stick finish, this ergonomic manual weeder gets into tight spaces, uprooting, digging, and shoveling with precision.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Mar. 2024
The cable lock was later found in the home, unused, and with an accompanying safety manual.
—Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The news was good: the manual survey, conducted by driving blue metal tubes into the ground, had measured 64 inches of snow — 13% above average for the location and time of year — all but guaranteeing that the state would not see severe drought this summer.
—Ned Kleiner, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
While most Americans hit the road with an automatic vehicle, there are still a few options for manual car enthusiasts.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 5 Apr. 2024
Others took umbrage at an ancient Egyptian art work depicting manual labor, which bore a caption describing how the pharaoh’s workers periodically staged strikes.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
In Santa Clara County, where a majority of the district falls, the registrar of voters estimates a manual recount would take approximately 10 days and cost $32,000 per day, for a total of $320,000.
—Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
Its weight-sensitive recline and self-adjusting headrest ensure effortless comfort, while the absence of manual controls enhances aesthetic appeal.
—Bethany Braun-Silva, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Studies have repeatedly indicated that the modern day workplace emphasizes a much higher premium on social and analytical skills, whereas physical and manual skills have increasingly faded in importance.
—Sai Balasubramanian, M.d., J.d., Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Initially, cryptocurrency transactions involved manual commands in terminals, but the evolution of user interfaces and the emergence of exchanges made digital assets more accessible.
—Tyler Shepherd, The Arizona Republic, 21 Mar. 2024
Gua Sha tools allow for lymphatic drainage as with other tools in this category, but their specific shape allows for manual contouring and massaging.
—Isabella Ubaldi, Health, 20 Mar. 2024
Noun
Since 2017, officials with NTSB have urged Tesla to limit Autopilot use to highways without cross traffic, the areas for which the company’s user manuals specify Autopilot is intended.
—Trisha Thadani, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
That’s good for 556 horsepower and 551 pound-feet of twist, all funneled to the rear wheels via a Tremec six-speed manual (or an automatic with paddle shifters).
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
The league conducts two to four general trainings on open records laws a year and also produces a manual on the topic, adding that the 2016 change to the law is a focus in its trainings.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
In addition to these innovations, a new industry manual from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation requires new bridges to be designed to last for 75 years instead of 50 years.
—Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
The steam times for getting out stains are listed in the instruction manual, which varies depending on the severity.
—Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 23 Mar. 2024
The Free Enterprise Club argues certain provisions of the manual violate First Amendment free speech rights.
—Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024
With four pointed teeth made of stainless steel and a non-stick finish, this ergonomic manual weeder gets into tight spaces, uprooting, digging, and shoveling with precision.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Mar. 2024
The cable lock was later found in the home, unused, and with an accompanying safety manual.
—Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'manual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to manual
Dictionary Entries Near manual
Cite this Entry
“Manual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manual. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
manual
1 of 2 adjective
man·u·al
ˈman-yə(-wə)l
1
: of, relating to, or involving the hands
manual skill
2
: worked or operated by hand
a car with a manual transmission
3
: requiring or using physical skill and energy
manual labor
manually
adverb
-ē
manual
2 of 2 noun1
: a small book
especially
: handbook
2
: the set movements in the handling of a weapon during a military drill
the manual of arms
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English manuel "relating to the hands, manual," from early French manuel (same meaning), from Latin manualis (same meaning), from manus "hand" — related to manage, maneuver, manufacture see Word History at maneuver
Medical Definition
manual
adjective
man·u·al
ˈman-yə(-wə)l
1
a
: of, relating to, or involving the hands
manual dexterity
b
: done or performed by hand and not by machine
manual removal of nits and lice—Jerome Potts
Jerome Potts2
: using signs and the manual alphabet in teaching the deaf compare oral sense 2
Legal Definition
manual
adjective
man·u·al
ˈman-yə-wəl
: involving or as if involving use of the hands
specifically
: of, relating to, or being a gift of a corporeal movable object that is actually delivered
a manual donation
manually
adverb
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