manoeuvre
gb/mənoʊuvɚ/ us/mənoʊuvɚ/
B2
English
~ 7000
manőver, húzás, taktikai lépés, manőverezik, bemanőverez, taktikázik, ügyeskedik, hadgyakorlat, katonai gyakorlat
NOUN
C1
1
Usage pattern:
a/an [adjective] manoeuvre to [do something]
Critics dismissed the reshuffle as a political manoeuvre to distract attention from the scandal.
A kritikusok szerint az átalakítás csak politikai manőver volt, hogy elterelje a figyelmet a botrányról.
The takeover was a bold manoeuvre that doubled the size of the company.
A felvásárlás merész húzás volt, amely megduplázta a cég méretét.
Her resignation was seen as a tactical manoeuvre to force new elections.
The new tax rule is a clever manoeuvre designed to attract foreign investors.
His public apology was largely a face-saving manoeuvre rather than a sign of real regret.
Learner examples
The change in law was a political manoeuvre to win more votes.
A törvénymódosítás politikai manőver volt, hogy több szavazatot szerezzenek.
The company’s price cut was a smart manoeuvre to beat its rivals.
A cég árcsökkentése okos húzás volt, hogy maga mögé utasítsa a versenytársait.
Many people thought his wedding was a media manoeuvre, not real love.
Her move to another team was a career manoeuvre, not a surprise.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only "move" or "step" in political or business contexts where "manoeuvre" is more precise for a planned, strategic action. Also, some treat it as uncountable (e.g. *"a lot of manoeuvre"*), but here it is countable: *"a clever manoeuvre", "several manoeuvres".* Note that American English usually spells it "maneuver".
Meaning
planned move to gain advantage
Collocations
political manoeuvre
|tactical manoeuvre
|clever manoeuvre
|legal manoeuvre
|diplomatic manoeuvre
|financial manoeuvre
Synonyms
tactic (Very close in meaning; often slightly more neutral and common, especially in business and games.)
|
move (More general and informal; can sound less calculated or less formal than "manoeuvre".)
Antonyms
blunder (A serious mistake; opposite because a manoeuvre is usually careful and smart, while a blunder is careless and harmful.)
Themes
politics
|business
|work
|strategy
|relationships
Definition
A planned action that someone uses to get an advantage or to change a situation, especially in politics or business.
A carefully planned or calculated action, especially in politics, business, or personal situations, intended to gain an advantage or produce a particular result.
NOUN
B2
2
manőver
B2
Usage pattern:
a [type of] manoeuvre in/into/out of [a place]
He failed his driving test because of a badly executed parking manoeuvre.
Azért bukott meg a forgalmi vizsgán, mert rosszul hajtotta végre a parkolási manővert.
The pilot performed a sharp evasive manoeuvre to avoid the storm clouds.
A pilóta éles kitérő manővert hajtott végre, hogy elkerülje a viharfelhőket.
This narrow street makes any turning manoeuvre quite difficult.
The cyclist’s sudden manoeuvre forced the car to brake hard.
The rescue involved a complex winching manoeuvre from the helicopter.
Learner examples
He showed the students a safe parking manoeuvre.
Megmutatott a tanulóknak egy biztonságos parkolási manővert.
The pilot made a quick manoeuvre to avoid the other plane.
A pilóta gyors manővert hajtott végre, hogy elkerülje a másik repülőgépet.
This is a difficult manoeuvre for new drivers.
The boat hit the rock during a turning manoeuvre.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse the spelling between British "manoeuvre" and American "maneuver"; both are correct depending on the variety of English. Some say *"do a manoeuvre"* where native speakers more often say "make" or simply name the manoeuvre (e.g. "perform an emergency manoeuvre"). Also, avoid using it for very simple everyday moves where "turn" or "move" is more natural.
Meaning
careful movement, often of a vehicle
Collocations
parking manoeuvre
|overtaking manoeuvre
|emergency manoeuvre
|steering manoeuvre
|low-speed manoeuvre
Synonyms
movement (More general; does not always suggest skill or difficulty as strongly as "manoeuvre".)
|
manoeuver (US: maneuver) (Same meaning; just an alternative (chiefly American) spelling.)
Antonyms
standstill (A state of no movement; opposite because a manoeuvre involves active, controlled movement.)
Themes
transport
|daily life
|sports
|transportation
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A careful, controlled movement, especially when you move a car, plane, or your body in a small or difficult space.
A controlled or skilful movement that changes the position or direction of a person, vehicle, or object, especially when space is limited or precision is needed.
VERB
B2
3
manőverezik
B2
bemanőverez
B2
Usage pattern:
to manoeuvre [something/someone] into/out of/through [a place]
She carefully manoeuvred the car into the tight parking space.
Óvatosan bemanőverezte az autót a szűk parkolóhelyre.
The captain had to manoeuvre the ship through the narrow channel.
A kapitánynak át kellett manővereznie a hajót a szűk csatornán.
Paramedics quickly manoeuvred the stretcher into the ambulance.
He manoeuvred the sofa around the corner without scratching the walls.
The cyclist skilfully manoeuvred between the stopped cars.
Learner examples
He slowly manoeuvred his car into the small space.
Lassan bemanőverezte az autóját a kis helyre.
The driver had to manoeuvre around the fallen tree.
A sofőrnek manőverezve kellett kikerülnie a kidőlt fát.
They manoeuvred the table through the narrow door.
The pilot manoeuvred the helicopter over the field.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes forget the prepositions and say *"manoeuvre the car the space"* instead of "manoeuvre the car into the space". They may also overuse it for simple actions where "move" or "turn" is more natural. Remember that in American English the spelling is "maneuver".
Meaning
move something carefully or skilfully
Collocations
manoeuvre a car
|manoeuvre into position
|manoeuvre through traffic
|manoeuvre out of a space
Synonyms
steer (Commonly used for vehicles; focuses on controlling direction, while "manoeuvre" highlights careful, often complex movement.)
|
guide (More general and gentler; can be physical or metaphorical, while "manoeuvre" implies more effort or difficulty in movement.)
Antonyms
stay put (To not move at all; opposite because manoeuvring involves active movement.)
Themes
transport
|daily life
|daily_life
|transportation
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To move something or someone in a careful and skilful way, often in a small or difficult space.
To move or guide something or someone carefully and skilfully into a particular position or through a space, especially when it is small, crowded, or difficult.
VERB
C1
4
Usage pattern:
to manoeuvre [someone/yourself] into/out of [a situation]
He managed to manoeuvre himself into a senior position within just two years.
Két év alatt sikerült bemanővereznie magát egy vezető pozícióba.
They tried to manoeuvre their rival out of the leadership race.
Megpróbálták kimanőverezni riválisukat a vezetői posztért folyó versenyből.
The government has been quietly manoeuvring to secure support for the new bill.
She skilfully manoeuvred through the office politics to get the project approved.
Investors accused the board of manoeuvring the figures to hide losses.
Learner examples
He slowly manoeuvred himself into a better job at the company.
Fokozatosan bemanőverezte magát egy jobb állásba a cégnél.
They tried to manoeuvre her out of the team.
Megpróbálták kimanőverezni őt a csapatból.
The party is manoeuvring to win more power.
She manoeuvred through the office politics to get her idea accepted.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with the purely physical sense and use it in contexts where no strategy is involved. In this meaning, it often takes a reflexive form ("manoeuvre himself/herself") or an object like "someone" or "a situation" plus a preposition ("into", "out of"). Using it without these can sound odd. Also be aware of the more negative tone of near-synonyms like "manipulate".
Meaning
handle situation or people cleverly
Collocations
manoeuvre someone into a position
|manoeuvre himself into power
|manoeuvre her out of the job
|manoeuvre through a crisis
Synonyms
manipulate (Often stronger and more negative, suggesting unfair or secret control of people.)
|
engineer (Suggests carefully arranging events, often in a clever or secret way; slightly more formal and technical.)
Antonyms
submit (To accept another’s control without trying to change the situation; opposite to actively manoeuvring for advantage.)
Themes
politics
|work
|strategy
|business
|relationships
Definition
To handle people or a situation in a careful and clever way in order to get what you want.
To carefully and often subtly manage people, events, or a situation in order to gain an advantage or achieve a particular result.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
5
Usage pattern:
military manoeuvres in [a place]
The two countries are holding joint military manoeuvres near the border.
A két ország közös hadgyakorlatokat tart a határ közelében.
Large-scale naval manoeuvres will take place in the region next month.
A térségben jövő hónapban nagyszabású haditengerészeti hadgyakorlatokat tartanak.
The government denied that the manoeuvres were a threat to neighbouring states.
Troops were deployed to the area for routine training manoeuvres.
The manoeuvres are designed to test the army’s readiness for conflict.
Learner examples
The army did military manoeuvres near the sea.
A hadsereg katonai gyakorlatokat tartott a tenger közelében.
Many soldiers took part in the training manoeuvres.
Sok katona vett részt a kiképzési hadgyakorlatokon.
The news showed large military manoeuvres on TV.
These manoeuvres help the army get ready for war.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with a single small movement. In this sense, the word is almost always plural ("military manoeuvres") and refers to large training events, not one small action. It is also more common in news and political reporting than in everyday conversation.
Meaning
large military training exercise
Collocations
military manoeuvres
|training manoeuvres
|joint manoeuvres
|naval manoeuvres
|border manoeuvres
Synonyms
exercise (A more general term for training activities; does not always imply large, realistic combat practice as strongly as "manoeuvres".)
Antonyms
combat (Real fighting in war; opposed to manoeuvres, which are practice, not actual battle.)
Themes
military
|politics
Definition
A big training event where the army, navy, or air force practises moving and fighting like in a real war.
A large, carefully planned military training exercise in which soldiers, ships, or aircraft move and act as if in real combat.
Grammar
Dictionary form
manoeuvre
IPA
GB/mənoʊuvɚ/
US/mənoʊuvɚ/
Syllables & stress
man - oeuvre (2 syllables)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: manoeuvre
- Plural: manoeuvres
Verb
- Base: manoeuvre
- 3rd Person Singular: manoeuvres
- Present Participle: manoeuvring
- Past: manoeuvred
Word family
Forms
manoeuvres
noun
manoeuvring
verb
manoeuvred
verb
Related words
Advanced or less common
manoeuvrability
noun
maneuverability
noun
Expressions
room for manoeuvre
1/ɹˈum fɚ mənoʊuvɚ/
fixed phrase
freedom to change plans or actions
The freedom or chance to change what you do or how you do it, especially before a decision or plan is final.
Examples
- The tight deadline leaves us very little room for manoeuvre.
- With rising costs, the company has almost no room for manoeuvre on prices.
- Negotiators still have some room for manoeuvre to reach an agreement.