maneuver

1 of 2

noun

ma·​neu·​ver mə-ˈnü-vər 

-ˈnyü-

1

a

: a military or naval movement

b

: an armed forces training exercise

especially : an extended and large-scale training exercise involving military and naval units separately or in combination

—often used in plural

The army and navy conducted maneuvers as training for war.

2

: a procedure or method of working usually involving expert physical movement

acrobats performing dangerous maneuvers

3

a

: evasive movement or shift of tactics

permits no room for concession or maneuver

—Harry Schwartz

b

: an intended and controlled variation from a straight and level flight path in the operation of an airplane

The aircraft performed such maneuvers as spins, loops, and inverted flights.

4

a

: an action taken to gain a tactical end

this maneuver almost cost him the nomination

—H. L. Mencken

b

: an adroit and clever management of affairs often using trickery and deception

plaintiffs' pretrial maneuvers may be fashioned more with an eye to deterrence or retaliation than to unearthing germane material

—John Marshall

maneuver

2 of 2

verb

maneuvered; maneuvering mə-ˈnü-və-riŋ 

-ˈnyü-;

-ˈn(y)üv-riŋ

intransitive verb

1

a

: to perform a movement in military or naval tactics in order to secure an advantage

The regiment maneuvered for several days before it was ready to attack.

b

: to make a series of changes in direction and position for a specific purpose

Ships maneuvered into their docks.

2

: to use stratagems : scheme

maneuvered successfully to get him to ask her to the dance

transitive verb

1

: to cause to execute tactical movements

We maneuvered our troops to the south.

2

: to manage into or out of a position or condition : manipulate

maneuvered the cork out with his thumb

—Kay Boyle

3

a

: to guide with adroitness and design

maneuvered her guests until the talk at the table became general

—Jean Statford

b

: to bring about or secure as a result of skillful management

maneuvered out of the council the funds to renovate the library

maneuverability

mə-ˌnü-və-rə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

-ˌnyü-;

-ˌn(y)üv-rə-

noun

maneuverable

mə-ˈnü-və-rə-bəl 

-ˈnyü-;

-ˈn(y)üv-rə-

adjective

maneuverer

mə-ˈnü-vər-ər 

-ˈnyü-

noun

Synonyms

Verb

• manipulate
• handle
• manage
• address
• negotiate
• take
• treat

Choose the Right Synonym for maneuver

trick, ruse, stratagem, maneuver, artifice, wile, feint mean an indirect means to gain an end.

trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game

maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.

used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

Examples of maneuver in a Sentence

Noun

With a quick maneuver, she avoided an accident.

Through a series of legal maneuvers, the defense lawyer kept her client out of jail.

He led his troops in a well-planned maneuver.

To prepare for war, the army is performing maneuvers off the coast.

The army is on maneuvers.

Verb

She maneuvered her car into the tiny garage.

It took seven people to maneuver the tiger out of its cage.

We had a hard time maneuvering our furniture through the doorway.

The giant ships maneuvered into their docks.

The vehicle easily maneuvered through rocky terrain.

They held hands while maneuvering through the crowd.

The companies are maneuvering for position in the limited market.

Somehow, she always manages to maneuver herself out of difficult situations.

We maneuvered our troops to the south.

The opposing forces maneuvered quickly.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Combined with Apple’s moves to make Apple TV available via Amazon, a bundle deal with Peacock, and other maneuvers, the streaming service seems ready to rev up its ambitions, and MLS may stand to benefit by being along for that ride. —Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025

These maneuvers succeeded others China made in the spring. —Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025

Verb

But the thought processes are cool, the way guys maneuver the game is cool. —Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025

Israel has quite limited space to maneuver. —Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

French manœuvre, from Old French maneuvre work done by hand, from Medieval Latin manuopera, from manu operare to perform manual labor — more at manure

First Known Use

Noun

1759, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1777, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing maneuver

• Epley maneuver
• Heimlich maneuver
• room for maneuver
• Valsalva maneuver

Rhymes for maneuver

• approver
• improver
• remover
• louver
• mover

Kids Definition

maneuver

1 of 2 noun

ma·​neu·​ver mə-ˈn(y)ü-vər 

1

a

: a planned movement of troops or ships

b

: a training exercise by armed forces

2

: a clever or skillful move or action

avoided an accident by a quick maneuver

maneuver

2 of 2 verb

maneuvered; maneuvering -ˈn(y)üv-(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to move (as troops or ships) in a maneuver

2

: to perform a maneuver

3

: to manage skillfully

4

: to use trickery : scheme

maneuverability

-ˌn(y)üv-(ə-)rə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

maneuverable

-ˈn(y)üv-(ə-)rə-bəl 

adjective

Etymology

Noun

from French manœuvre "a military movement," from early French maneuvre "work done by hand," from Latin manuopera (same meaning), from earlier Latin manu operare "to perform manual labor," from manu, a form of manus "hand," and operare "to work" — related to manage, manual, manure, operate

Word Origin

Strange as it seems, we owe both maneuver and manure to the same French source. The medieval French verb manovrer, meaning "to work" or "to place with the hand," developed from manuoperare, literally, "to work by hand," in the spoken Latin of ancient Gaul. From meinourer, a variant of manovrer used in England, Middle English adopted maynouren or manouren, which had the senses "to take in hand, manage," and "to cultivate (land)." In the 1500s English derived from the latter sense the noun manure, "material that fertilizes land." In the 1700s English adopted maneuver from French manœuvrer (the descendant of medieval French manovrer) which in the intervening centuries had developed a new sense "to perform a movement in military tactics."

Medical Definition

maneuver

noun

ma·​neu·​ver

variants or chiefly British manoeuvre

mə-ˈn(y)ü-vər 

1

: a movement, procedure, or method performed to achieve a desired result and especially to restore a normal physiological state or to promote normal function

the simplest maneuver to actuate the normal eustachian tube is to swallow

—H. G. Armstrong

see heimlich maneuver, valsalva maneuver

2

: a manipulation to accomplish a change of position

specifically : rotational or other movement applied to a fetus within the uterus to alter its position and facilitate delivery see scanzoni maneuver