manner

noun

man·ner | \ ˈma-nər

Definition of manner

1a(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 sense 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 sense 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

2a : kind, sort what manner of man is he

b : kinds, sorts all manner of problems

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

Other Words from manner Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about manner

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Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web China has proceeded in a more measured, cautious manner than the U.S. and Soviet Union during the height of the space race. — NBC News, "China launches main part of its first permanent space station," 29 Apr. 2021 Like Ntiro’s other works, the painting reflects rural life in a flattened, stylized manner. — Isis Davis-marks, Smithsonian Magazine, "Trove of African Modernist Masterpieces Spent Decades Hidden in Rural Scotland," 23 Apr. 2021 And more importantly, allows the practitioner to skirt a potentially awkward conversation by reeling in a patient's unrealistic goals in a thoughtful, empathetic manner. — Kaitlin Clark, Allure, "12 Questions to Ask Your Dermatologist When Considering Fillers," 14 Apr. 2021 Economists already debate whether corporations truly pay taxes or merely pass them along in an inefficient and, yes, unfair, manner. — WSJ, "A Global Minimum Corporate Tax Is a Loser," 11 Apr. 2021 There had been all manner of expenses to cover, including tuberculosis medication for her father, whose health had taken a turn for the worse. — Longreads, "When Refugee Families are Separated, Women Carry the Burden," 6 Apr. 2021 Additionally, there have been calls for reform around how data is amassed and reviewed, since data — when collected in a fair, balanced manner — provides feedback that is not political or biased. — Tammy Homegardner, Forbes, "Job Trends We Are Seeing In The Current Economy," 6 Apr. 2021 But the manner in which that unexpected rest came about — via blowout against an Eastern Conference also-ran — was not optimal. — Jeff Mcdonald, San Antonio Express-News, "'Fried' and perhaps cooked, Spurs head to Denver looking to stop slide," 6 Apr. 2021 But his voice speaks volumes, delivering Hemingway's words in a baby-soft, unpretentious manner. — Neal Justin, Star Tribune, "In Ken Burns' latest, you'll like Hemingway the artist more than Hemingway the man," 2 Apr. 2021

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.