manually
gb/mˈænjuəli/ us/mˈænjuəli/
B1
English
~ 9200
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B1
property
1
by hand, not automatically
by hand, not by a machine or automatic system
Usage pattern:
to do [something] manually
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the adjective "manual" with the adverb "manually" and say *"I did it manual"* instead of *"I did it manually"*. Another common mistake is putting it in the wrong position, for example *"I manually it did"*; it usually comes after the verb or at the end: *"I did it manually"*.
Synonyms
by hand (Very common everyday expression; slightly more informal and conversational than "manually".)
|
physically (Emphasizes physical effort; broader and less specific than "manually", which focuses on using the hands.)
Antonyms
automatically (Shows that something happens on its own by a system or machine, not by a person using their hands.)
Collocations
do it manually
|enter data manually
|manually operated
|manually open
|manually adjust
|manually control
Themes
daily life
|work
|technology
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The door will lock automatically, but you can also lock it manually from the inside.
- Because the machine broke down, we had to pack all the boxes manually.
- She prefers to wash some delicate clothes manually instead of putting them in the washing machine.
- If the timer fails, you must switch the lights on manually each evening.
- The settings can be changed manually if the automatic mode does not work correctly.
Learner examples
- The workers move the heavy boxes manually.
- I entered all the numbers manually into the form.
- You can open the window manually if it does not open by itself.
- They checked each ticket manually at the door.
- He turned off the machine manually after the test.
adverb
technical
B2
property
2
by direct user action in systems
by a person doing each step themselves in a system, not by automatic software or a scheduled job
Usage pattern:
to update [something] manually in [a system]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "manually" in technical texts means "by reading the manual" rather than "not automatically". Another issue is overusing "by hand" in formal documentation, where "manually" is more standard and precise.
Synonyms
by hand (Can be used in technical contexts but sounds less precise and less standard than "manually" in documentation or instructions.)
Antonyms
automatically (Describes operations performed by scripts, programs, or scheduled tasks without direct user input.)
Collocations
enter data manually
|manually install the software
|manually update the app
|manually restart the server
|manually back up files
|manually configure the settings
Themes
technology
|computing
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- If the automatic update fails, you must download the patch and install it manually.
- Users can either sync their contacts automatically or add each one manually.
- The system does not back up your data automatically, so remember to save your work manually every day.
- Developers often test the feature manually before setting up automated tests.
- You need to manually configure the network settings if the device cannot detect them.
Learner examples
- I had to update the app manually from the website.
- The program did not start, so I opened it manually.
- You can enter each email address manually into the list.
- Please save the file manually before you close the program.
- We backed up the photos manually to an external drive.
Grammar
Dictionary form
manually
IPA
GB/mˈænjuəli/
US/mˈænjuəli/
Syllables & stress
manu - ally (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (manu)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: manually
- Plural: manuallies
Word family
Forms
manuallies
noun
Core family
manual
adjective A2
Negative and opposite forms
automatic
adjective A2
automatically
adverb A2
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.