maneuver
gb/mənˈuvɚ/ us/mənˈuvɚ/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
move something skillfully into place
To move something carefully and with skill.
Usage pattern:
maneuver [something/someone] (into/through/around) [place/position]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse the US spelling maneuver with the UK spelling manoeuvre.
Synonyms
steer (Focuses on guiding direction, especially vehicles.)
|
navigate (Emphasizes finding a way through a route or obstacles.)
Antonyms
jam (Become stuck so movement is difficult or impossible.)
|
immobilize (Make unable to move.)
Collocations
maneuver the car
|maneuver the truck
|maneuver into a parking space
|maneuver out of a tight spot
|maneuver through traffic
|maneuver around an obstacle
|maneuver a wheelchair
|maneuver the boat
|maneuver into position
|carefully maneuver
Themes
travel
|driving
|daily_life
Examples
- She maneuvered the car into the last parking space.
- The crew maneuvered the boat away from the rocks.
- He maneuvered the heavy sofa through the narrow doorway.
Learner examples
- I maneuvered my bike around the hole.
- Can you maneuver the chair closer to the table?
Noun
B2
action
2
a skilled movement or turn
A careful, skillful movement.
Usage pattern:
a maneuver (to do [something])
Common mistake:
Often used for a single action (a maneuver) rather than a long series of actions.
Synonyms
move (More general and less focused on skill.)
|
turn (Often specifically a change of direction.)
Antonyms
inaction (No movement or action taken.)
|
standstill (A complete stop, especially of a vehicle.)
Collocations
a difficult maneuver
|a risky maneuver
|an evasive maneuver
|a parking maneuver
|a tight maneuver
|a sudden maneuver
|a bold maneuver
|a careful maneuver
|a maneuver to avoid a crash
|complete a maneuver
Themes
travel
|driving
|sports
Examples
- The driver made a sharp maneuver to avoid the deer.
- Parallel parking is a tricky maneuver on this street.
- The cyclist’s sudden maneuver surprised the cars behind him.
Learner examples
- That maneuver was dangerous.
- The pilot made a smooth maneuver.
Noun
C1
action
3
a clever action for advantage
A clever plan or action to get what you want.
Usage pattern:
a maneuver to do [something]
Common mistake:
In this sense, it often suggests indirect or tactical behavior (not simply “a plan”).
Synonyms
tactic (Often one step within a larger strategy.)
|
ploy (Suggests a clever trick, sometimes slightly dishonest.)
Antonyms
straightforwardness (Acting openly and directly rather than tactically.)
|
honesty (Opposes the implication of manipulation or indirectness.)
Collocations
a political maneuver
|a legal maneuver
|a strategic maneuver
|a last-minute maneuver
|a bold maneuver
|a clever maneuver
|a maneuver to gain control
|a maneuver to block a vote
|behind-the-scenes maneuvers
|corporate maneuvering
Themes
business
|politics
|relationships
Examples
- The merger was seen as a maneuver to weaken their main competitor.
- Her resignation was a political maneuver designed to force a new election.
- It was a clever maneuver that shifted the discussion away from the budget cuts.
Learner examples
- It was a maneuver to win support.
- The deal was a business maneuver.
Verb
C1
process
4
act strategically to gain advantage
To act cleverly to get an advantage.
Usage pattern:
maneuver to do [something]; maneuver [someone] into/out of [situation/role]
Common mistake:
Often followed by to + verb (maneuver to delay) or into/out of + noun phrase; not usually used like “maneuver a plan.”
Synonyms
scheme (Stronger sense of secret planning; often negative.)
|
strategize (More neutral, emphasizing planning rather than manipulation.)
Antonyms
cooperate (Work openly with others instead of competing tactically.)
|
submit (Accept another’s control rather than trying to gain advantage.)
Collocations
maneuver to gain support
|maneuver to stay in power
|maneuver to block a proposal
|maneuver someone into a job
|maneuver someone out of the company
|maneuver for control
|maneuver behind the scenes
|carefully maneuver
Themes
business
|politics
|relationships
Examples
- He maneuvered to delay the vote until more members arrived.
- They maneuvered their candidate into a leadership role.
- The company maneuvered around the new rules by changing its structure.
Learner examples
- She maneuvered to get the promotion.
- They maneuvered him out of the project.
Noun
technical
C1
event
5
military training or troop movement
A military practice exercise or movement.
Usage pattern:
military maneuvers; maneuvers near [place]
Synonyms
exercise (Common term for planned military training activity.)
|
drill (Often smaller-scale practice, focused on repetition.)
Antonyms
ceasefire (A pause in conflict rather than active operations or training.)
|
stand-down (An order to relax readiness or stop an operation/training.)
Collocations
military maneuvers
|naval maneuvers
|joint maneuvers
|large-scale maneuvers
|training maneuvers
|combat maneuvers
|maneuvers near the border
|annual maneuvers
|troop maneuvers
|war games and maneuvers
Themes
military
|government
Examples
- The army began maneuvers in the desert early this morning.
- Several countries took part in joint maneuvers in the region.
- Satellite images showed increased maneuvers near the border.
Learner examples
- The soldiers are doing maneuvers today.
- The navy held joint maneuvers.
Noun
technical
C1
action
6
a specific medical handling technique
A special movement used in medical care.
Usage pattern:
a maneuver to [test/treat] [condition]; the [name] maneuver
Synonyms
technique (Broader term; not limited to a specific movement.)
|
procedure (Often more formal and can involve multiple steps beyond movement.)
Antonyms
observation (Watching without physically manipulating the body.)
|
inaction (Not performing any intervention.)
Collocations
a diagnostic maneuver
|a therapeutic maneuver
|a repositioning maneuver
|a bedside maneuver
|perform a maneuver
|a maneuver to relieve symptoms
|a maneuver to test the knee
|the Epley maneuver
|the Heimlich maneuver
|a physical exam maneuver
Themes
health
|medicine
Examples
- The doctor performed a maneuver to check her shoulder stability.
- A simple maneuver can sometimes relieve the dizziness.
- The therapist taught him a maneuver to reduce the pain.
Learner examples
- The doctor did a quick maneuver.
- This maneuver helped my neck.
Grammar
Dictionary form
maneuver
IPA
GB/mənˈuvɚ/
US/mənˈuvɚ/
Syllables & stress
man - euver (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (euver)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: maneuver
- Plural: maneuvers
Verb
- Base: maneuver
- 3rd Person Singular: maneuvers
- Present Participle: maneuvering
- Past: maneuvered
Word family
Forms
maneuvers
noun
maneuvering
verb
maneuvered
verb
Core family
maneuverable
adjective
Related words
maneuverability
noun
outmaneuver
verb
Negative and opposite forms
unmaneuverable
adjective
Expressions
maneuver around
1/mənˈuvɚ ɚˈaʊnd/
phrasal verb
avoid or work around obstacles
To go around something that blocks you.
Examples
- We had to maneuver around road closures downtown.
- The team maneuvered around the budget limits by reusing existing tools.
- She maneuvered around the pile of boxes in the hallway.
maneuver for position
1/mənˈuvɚ fɚ pəzˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
compete for advantage or rank
To compete to get a better position.
Examples
- Several executives were maneuvering for position after the CEO resigned.
- Parties began to maneuver for position ahead of the election.
- Teams are already maneuvering for position at the top of the league.
maneuver into
1/mənˈuvɚ ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
move or get into position
To move into a place or situation carefully.
Examples
- She maneuvered the stroller into the crowded elevator.
- He maneuvered himself into a better seat near the front.
- The investor maneuvered the company into a stronger negotiating position.
maneuver out of
1/mənˈuvɚ ˈaʊt əv/
phrasal verb
escape a difficult situation
To escape or get out of something difficult.
Examples
- He maneuvered out of answering the question directly.
- It took ten minutes to maneuver the couch out of the apartment.
- She maneuvered herself out of the argument before it got worse.
maneuver through
1/mənˈuvɚ θɹˈu/
phrasal verb
move through a crowded area
To move through a difficult place carefully.
Examples
- They maneuvered through the crowd to reach the exit.
- I maneuvered through rush-hour traffic as fast as I could.
- The nurse maneuvered through the narrow corridor with the bed.
room to maneuver
1/ɹˈum tə mənˈuvɚ/
idiom
freedom to change plans
Enough space or freedom to act.
Examples
- We need some room to maneuver if costs go up again.
- The contract gives the supplier room to maneuver on delivery dates.
- I left extra time in the schedule to give us room to maneuver.