managed

managed — verb

IPA/ˈmæn.ɪdʒ/
KK[mˈænədʒd]IPA/ˈmæn.ədʒ/
  • 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

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

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.

Example

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.

Common collocations
  • managed to [infinitive]
  • managed + noun phrase
  • somehow managed to
  • just about managed to
Synonyms
  • 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

Antonyms
  • failed

    opposite outcome — the attempt was unsuccessful

Grammar Patterns

manage + to-infinitive

manage + noun phrase (object)

Usage Note

Frequently used with a to-infinitive clause to describe the specific achievement. The past tense suggests the action was completed.

Common Mistakes

Paloma could managed to finish the marathon.
Paloma managed to finish the marathon.
After 'managed' use the bare infinitive with 'to', not a past form.
I managed finishing the project on time.
I managed to finish the project on time.
Use the to-infinitive form, not a gerund, after 'managed'.

2. To keep living with very limited financial resources or without things most peop

2.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

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.

Example

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.

Common collocations
  • manage on [amount]
  • manage without [something]
  • manage with [limited resource]
  • somehow managed
Synonyms
  • got by

    informal; emphasizes just barely having enough

  • made ends meet

    idiomatic; focuses on balancing income and expenses

Antonyms
  • struggled

    implies difficulty without successful coping

  • ran out

    the opposite of managing on limited resources

Grammar Patterns

manage + on + (amount of money)

manage + without + (something)

Usage Note

Usually intransitive or followed by 'on' + a sum of money or 'without' + a resource. The focus is on survival with limited means.

Common Mistakes

She managed to live on little money.' (grammatically correct but mixes senses)
She managed on very little money.
For this sense, use 'manage on' directly without 'to live'.

3. To succeed in attending an event, keeping an appointment, or doing something at

3.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

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.

Example

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.

Common collocations
  • managed to catch
  • managed to attend
  • managed a [noun]
  • managed to fit in
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • missed

    failed to attend or catch something

Grammar Patterns

manage + to-infinitive + time context

manage + noun phrase (appointment/event)

Usage Note

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

4.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

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.

Example

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.

Common collocations
  • managed a team
  • managed a business
  • managed operations
  • managed a project
  • managed resources
Synonyms
  • 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

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

manage + (business/team/project)

manage + (someone's career/affairs)

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

He managed to the company.
He managed the company.
'Manage' in this sense takes a direct object without a preposition.

managed — adjective

IPA/ˈmænɪdʒd/
KK[mˈænədʒd]IPA/ˈmænɪdʒd/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

These words all describe achieving a result, but they differ in connotation and style. 'Managed' (sense 1) focuses on overcoming difficulty and is the most neutral and versatile option — you can use it in both casual and formal settings. 'Succeed in' is more formal and emphasizes the outcome over the effort; for example, 'she succeeded in passing the exam' sounds more official than 'she managed to pass'. 'Contrive' is a more literary word that suggests clever planning and sometimes a hint of deception — 'he contrived a meeting with the director' implies scheming. 'Pull off' is informal and often implies the achievement was impressive or surprising — 'they pulled off the wedding in two weeks' sounds enthusiastic and conversational. 'Make it' is very informal and often implies arriving somewhere or surviving a challenge — 'I don't know how, but we made it'. In everyday spoken English, 'managed to' is the safest choice; for formal writing 'succeeded in' fits better; for storytelling, 'contrived' adds drama; for casual conversation, 'pulled off' and 'made it' feel natural.

succeed incontrive ↗pull off ↗make it ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • somehow managed
  • just about managed
  • barely managed
  • successfully managed
  • well managed

Phrases

  • managed to do something
  • managed on a budget
  • managed by someone

Prepositions

  • managed on
  • managed without
  • managed by
  • managed with

Etymology

ItalianFrenchEnglish

'Managed' comes from the Italian word 'maneggiare', meaning 'to handle, to train (especially horses)', which itself came from Latin 'manus' (hand). The word entered English in the 1500s via French 'manège' (horsemanship). The sense of 'succeeding despite difficulty' developed in the 1700s, shifting from the original meaning of controlled handling to the more general sense of getting something done against the odds.

First known use

1563

1563, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1