managed
managed — verb
- managedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- manageds3rd person singular
- manageding-ing form
- managededpast simple
1. To achieve a desired result or complete a challenging task despite obstacles, la
To achieve a desired result or complete a challenging task despite obstacles, lack of time, or difficulty — for example, finishing a complex project even though the deadline was very tight.
Despite the heavy rain, Paloma managed to finish the marathon in under five hours.
manage + to-infinitive for successful outcome despite obstacle
The hospital staff managed to evacuate all patients before the fire spread.
Sven managed to convince the committee to approve the new research funding.
Vinícius managed to repair the old motorcycle using nothing but basic hand tools.
Nobody thought the tiny bakery would survive, but Lien managed it through the crisis.
- contrived
more formal; suggests clever or unusual effort
- succeeded in
focuses purely on the outcome rather than the effort
- pulled off
informal; emphasizes doing something impressive despite difficulty
- failed
opposite outcome — the attempt was unsuccessful
文法句型
manage + to-infinitive
manage + noun phrase (object)
用法筆記
Frequently used with a to-infinitive clause to describe the specific achievement. The past tense suggests the action was completed.
常見錯誤
2. To keep living with very limited financial resources or without things most peop
To keep living with very limited financial resources or without things most people have — for example, covering all monthly expenses on a low part-time wage.
Talia managed on just her part-time salary while completing her nursing degree.
manage on + (amount/resource)
Mert's family somehow managed without a car for the entire winter.
The students managed on a very tight budget during their year abroad.
Tendai managed with only two hours of electricity per day during the power cuts.
- got by
informal; emphasizes just barely having enough
- made ends meet
idiomatic; focuses on balancing income and expenses
文法句型
manage + on + (amount of money)
manage + without + (something)
用法筆記
Usually intransitive or followed by 'on' + a sum of money or 'without' + a resource. The focus is on survival with limited means.
常見錯誤
3. To succeed in attending an event, keeping an appointment, or doing something at
To succeed in attending an event, keeping an appointment, or doing something at a specific time, especially when your schedule was already full — for example, fitting a doctor's appointment into a busy work day.
Madison managed to catch the early train despite her alarm not going off.
manage + to-infinitive in past tense with schedule challenge
Vikram managed to fit a dentist appointment into his lunch hour.
Maeve managed to attend the school play even though she had to work late.
The director managed a quick visit to the construction site between meetings.
- found time for
less formal; focuses on time scheduling
- made time for
emphasizes prioritising over other commitments
- missed
failed to attend or catch something
文法句型
manage + to-infinitive + time context
manage + noun phrase (appointment/event)
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, the difficulty here is specifically about time and scheduling rather than inherent task difficulty. Often used with time references like 'on time', 'between meetings', 'in time for'.
4. To direct, supervise, and coordinate the activities of a company, a team, a proj
To direct, supervise, and coordinate the activities of a company, a team, a project, or similar organized group — for example, running a hotel, leading a sales department, or overseeing a construction project.
Feng managed a team of fifteen software engineers at the startup.
manage + a team of people
Mert managed the family restaurant for over twenty years before retiring.
The librarian managed the daily operations of the town's main branch library.
A local charity managed the distribution of food and blankets after the earthquake.
Yan managed her father's schedule and travel arrangements for three years.
- ran
more informal; common for small businesses or daily operations
- directed
more formal; implies strategic leadership
- supervised
focuses on overseeing people's work rather than business strategy
- administered
formal; often used for organizations, policies, or systems
- mis-managed
handled poorly or incompetently
文法句型
manage + (business/team/project)
manage + (someone's career/affairs)
用法筆記
The object is typically an organization, team, project, or set of responsibilities. Unlike sense 1, the focus here is on ongoing responsibility and control rather than a single difficult achievement.
常見錯誤
managed — adjective
- managedpositive
- more managedcomparative
- most managedsuperlative
1. Done or arranged in a deliberate, controlled way, often giving an impression of
Done or arranged in a deliberate, controlled way, often giving an impression of careful restraint rather than natural spontaneity — for example, a politician's rehearsed answers that avoid any risky topics.
Her managed response to the criticism sounded like it had been carefully rehearsed.
managed + response / reaction (controlled, not natural)
The company's managed expansion allowed them to avoid taking on too much debt.
The interview felt managed, as though every question had an answer ready.
Paloma's managed smile did little to hide her disappointment at the result.
- controlled
broader meaning; less negative connotation of artificiality
- measured
suggests careful thought rather than artificial restraint
- restrained
focuses on holding back rather than deliberate staging
- spontaneous
natural and unplanned; the opposite of controlled arrangement
用法筆記
This adjective is commonly used before nouns related to communication or behaviour: 'response', 'smile', 'tone', 'approach'. It often carries a slightly negative connotation of artificiality or lack of spontaneity.