manner

noun man·ner \ ˈma-nər \

|Updated on: 19 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: manner in a Sentence

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

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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

In the same manner Kansas City is using its facilities as a selling point to land up to five World Cup matches, Sporting KC would utilize them to grow its brand on a world stage.

— sam mcdowell, kansascity, "How a World Cup would benefit Sporting KC. Let us count the ways," 15 June 2018
Trace amounts of olivine could be embedded within some of the volcanic rocks that spew out of the volcano, but these mineral specimens are tiny and would not rain down in the manner suggested.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Hawaii's Erupting Volcano Is Making It Rain Green Gems (Updated)," 14 June 2018
Masterfully curated by Eloy Martinez de la Pera, the show juxtaposes Joachim Sorolla’s bravura portraits (in the manner of his great friend John Singer Sargent) with artfully matched contemporary clothing.

— hamish bowles, Vogue, "How Hamish Bowles Spent a Whirlwind 24 Hours in Madrid," 14 June 2018
Their big investment replacing Suh on the defensive line was defensive end Robert Quinn, who underlines the manner this pass-first defense was constructed to play the modern way.

— dave hyde, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Hyde: Dolphins did all they wanted this offseason — but will it work? | Commentary," 14 June 2018
But his pleasant, carefree manner received a stern test this spring.

— ron kroichick, SFChronicle.com, "Stephen Curry’s season review: Tested by injuries, Zen-like at the end," 13 June 2018
But his pleasant, carefree manner received a stern test this spring.

— connor letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, "A dynasty secured," 13 June 2018
Straws, forks, shopping bags, nets and all manner of human detritus seems to be everywhere in what was once the endless, unspoiled sea.

— james rainey /, NBC News, "A young Dutch inventor wants to clean plastic from the ocean. Can he do it?," 13 June 2018
In a business plagued by counterfeits and all manner of tax evasion and fraud, blockchain digital ledgers may be the best way to track ownership and authenticity across a fragmented market, according to a new report described in the Financial Times.

— brittany shoot, Fortune, "How Much Bitcoin Would You Spend on a Warhol?," 13 June 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.