manner

noun man·ner \ ˈma-nər \

Updated on: 9 May 2018

Definition of manner

1 a (1) : a characteristic or customary mode of acting : custom

stopped to speak, after the manner of the country
—Ellen Glasgow

(2) : a mode of procedure or way of acting : fashion

responded in a lively manner

(3) : method of artistic execution (see execution 1) or mode of presentation : style

offers plenty of room for many jazz manners Wilder Hobson

b manners plural : social conduct or rules of conduct as shown in the prevalent customs

Victorian manners

c : characteristic or distinctive bearing (see bearing 1), air, or deportment

his poised gracious manner

d manners plural

(1) : habitual conduct or deportment : behavior

mind your manners

(2) : good manners

Someone should teach you some manners.

e : a distinguished or stylish air

taught to acquire a manner suitable to her station

2 a : kind, sort

what manner of man is he

b : kinds, sorts

all manner of problems

—

mannerless

play \ˈma-nər-ləs\ adjective

— to the manner born

: fitted by or as if by birth or rearing to a particular position, role, or status

was not to the manner born, and did not go to prep schools or to an Ivy League school
—Peter Tryell

See manner defined for English-language learners

See manner defined for kids

Examples of manner in a Sentence

She has a very forceful manner of speaking.
I objected to the manner in which the decision was made.
Some people have no manners.
Someone should teach you some manners!
He forgot his manners and reached across the table for the salt.
He painted this picture in his early manner.

Recent Examples of manner from the Web

The grid will fall; the router will stop blinking; the membrane of manners will dissolve.

— james parker, The Atlantic, "Live-Streaming the Apocalypse With NRATV," 5 May 2018
Nail care can be an afterthought, but James proved its importance Thursday, while psyching out the Toronto with his calm and collected manner in the process.

— charlotte carroll, SI.com, "Watch: LeBron James is Too Cool For Toronto so He Clips His Nails During Game 2," 4 May 2018
But Vinroot Poole’s confiding manner and quick, hearty laugh do set people at ease.

— cristina bolling, charlotteobserver, "Who sets Charlotte’s high-fashion agenda? This woman – and it’s been a 20-year mission | Charlotte Observer," 3 May 2018
Leadoff hitters provide boosts in different manners.

— terrence thomas, San Antonio Express-News, "Lead-off hitters set tone for softball teams’ offense, success," 25 Apr. 2018
This included letting nurse practitioners perform student-athlete exams (which was not allowed at the time), failure to perform sickle cell tests in a timely manner and failure to require medical exams before tryouts.

— michael mcgough, sacbee, "Serious NCAA rules violations result in 3-year probation for Sac State tennis program | The Sacramento Bee," 20 Apr. 2018
The other possible definition of the word has to do with manners passed down through generations.

— z. byron wolf, CNN, "Trump blasts 'breeding' in sanctuary cities. That's a racist term.," 18 Apr. 2018
Adding Leibman to this role only decreases whatever involvement either Davis or Simpson has in a day-to-day manner.

— mac engel, star-telegram, "When it comes to the Rangers' demise, blame starts at the very top," 14 Apr. 2018
Teaching manners and respect, as well as learning their place in the community, is what two local youth groups are all about.

— sue ellen ross, Post-Tribune, "Youth organizations help bolster kids' self-confidence," 9 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'manner.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of manner

Middle English manere, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *manuaria, from Latin, feminine of manuarius of the hand, from manus hand — more at manual

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 2a

See Words from the same year

manner Synonyms

Synonyms

approach, fashion, form, how, method, methodology, recipe, strategy, style, system, tack, tactics, technique, way;

Related Words

mode, modus operandi;

blueprint, design, game, game plan, ground plan, intrigue, layout, line, model, plan, plot, program, route, scheme;

expedient, move, shift, step;

practice (also practise), process, routine;

policy;

Synonym Discussion of manner

bearing, deportment, demeanor, mien, manner, carriage mean the outward manifestation of personality or attitude. bearing is the most general of these words but now usually implies characteristic posture.

- a woman of regal bearing

deportment suggests actions or behavior as formed by breeding or training.

- your deportment was atrocious

demeanor suggests one's attitude toward others as expressed in outward behavior.

- the haughty demeanor of the headwaiter

mien is a literary term referring both to bearing and demeanor.

- a mien of supreme self-satisfaction

manner implies characteristic or customary way of moving and gesturing and addressing others.

- the imperious manner of a man used to giving orders

carriage applies chiefly to habitual posture in standing or walking.

- the kind of carriage learned at boarding school

method, mode, manner, way, fashion, system mean the means taken or procedure followed in achieving an end. method implies an orderly logical arrangement usually in steps.

- effective teaching methods

mode implies an order or course followed by custom, tradition, or personal preference.

- the preferred mode of transportation

manner is close to mode but may imply a procedure or method that is individual or distinctive.

- an odd manner of conducting

way is very general and may be used for any of the preceding words.

- has her own way of doing things

fashion may suggest a peculiar or characteristic way of doing something.

- rushing about in his typical fashion

system suggests a fully developed or carefully formulated method often emphasizing rational orderliness.

- a filing system

MANNER Defined for English Language Learners

manner

noun

Definition of manner for English Language Learners

: the way that something is done or happens
: the way that a person normally behaves especially while with other people
manners : behavior while with other people

MANNER Defined for Kids

manner

noun man·ner \ ˈma-nər \

Definition of manner for Students

1 : the way something is done or happens

She worked in a quick manner.

2 : a way of acting

He has a gentle manner.

3 manners plural : behavior toward or in the presence of other people

They have good manners in a restaurant.

4 : ¹sort 1

… all manner of stories were told about it …
—C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Learn More about manner

See words that rhyme with manner Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for manner Spanish Central: Translation of manner Nglish: Translation of manner for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of manner for Arabic speakers

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manner

Definition of manner

mannerless

Examples of manner in a Sentence

Recent Examples of manner from the Web

Origin and Etymology of manner

manner Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of manner

Phrases Related to MANNER

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MANNER Defined for English Language Learners

manner

Definition of manner for English Language Learners

MANNER Defined for Kids

manner

Definition of manner for Students

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