Meaning & use
manoeuvre
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Meanings
nouncountable
A planned, skillful movement or action, especially one needing care in a difficult or tactical situation.
Grammar: Countable; often used in the plural for a series of actions: diplomatic manoeuvres.
Patterns
- a manoeuvre to do something
- perform/carry out a manoeuvre
- a series of manoeuvres
The pilot performed a complicated manoeuvre to avoid the storm.
The chess player's clever manoeuvre won the game.
The army's manoeuvres were designed to confuse the enemy.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To move or guide something skillfully or carefully into a particular position.
Grammar: Can take an object (manoeuvre the car) or be used without one (the car manoeuvred slowly).
Patterns
- manoeuvre something into/out of something
- manoeuvre through something
She manoeuvred the sofa through the narrow doorway.
He manoeuvred the boat into the harbor.
The driver manoeuvred carefully in the tight parking space.
verbtransitive
To influence a situation or person cleverly, often to gain an advantage.
Grammar: Takes an object: manoeuvre someone into doing something.
Patterns
- manoeuvre someone into doing something
- manoeuvre oneself into a position
She manoeuvred her way into the top job.
He tried to manoeuvre the conversation toward his own interests.
Word forms
| third person singular | manoeuvres |
|---|---|
| past tense | manoeuvred |
| past participle | manoeuvred |
| -ing form | manoeuvring |
| plural | manoeuvres |
Common combinations
- a clever manoeuvre
- The politician's clever manoeuvre gained him more support.
- a military manoeuvre
- The troops practiced a military manoeuvre at dawn.
- room for manoeuvre
- The budget leaves little room for manoeuvre.
- manoeuvre into position
- The crew manoeuvred the equipment into position.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- manoeuvrable adjective
- Able to be moved or guided easily.
Commonly confused: manoeuvre or maneuver?
manoeuvre vs maneuver
The American spelling; use maneuver in US English, manoeuvre in UK English.
Practice
The general ______ his troops around the enemy's left side.
Choose one answer.
The past tense 'manoeuvred' fits because the action is completed. 'Manoeuvring' would need a helping verb (was manoeuvring), and 'manoeuvre' or 'manoeuvres' do not match the past-time context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “manoeuvre”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.