1 [+ obj] a : to have control of (something, such as a business, department, sports team, etc.)
▪ She manages [=runs] her family's bakery. ▪ The business is managed by the owner's daughter. ▪ The company is badly managed. ▪ When she managed the department, we never missed a deadline.
b : to take care of and make decisions about (someone's time, money, etc.)
▪ He manages his own finances. ▪ You need to manage [=use] your time more wisely.
c : to direct the professional career of (someone, such as an entertainer or athlete)
▪ an agency that manages entertainers — see also stage-manage 2 [+ obj] a : to control the movements or actions of (something)
▪ She manages [=handles] her skis well. ▪ He is skillful in managing horses. : to keep (something) under your control ▪ He's not able to manage [=(more commonly) control] his emotions. ▪ This form of diabetes can be managed by diet. [=it can be controlled by eating a certain way]
b : to control the behavior of (a child, animal, etc.)
▪ She has difficulty managing [=handling] her young students. 3 [+ obj] : to use (something) carefully and without waste
▪ There's enough food if we manage it well. ▪ We need to do a better job of managing our natural resources. 4 a [no obj] : to be able to live or to do what is needed by using what you have even though you do not have much — often + on ▪ When he lost his job, we didn't know if we could manage [=get by] on just my salary. — often + with or without ▪ I wonder how they manage with so little income. ▪ We'll have to manage with just one car. ▪ This kind of plant can manage [=survive] with very little water. ▪ They'll have to manage [=get by] without presents this year. [=they'll have to accept that they are not getting presents this year]
b : to succeed in doing (something) [+ obj] ▪ “We'll need to talk about this again. Can you manage a meeting next week?” ▪ With his ankle broken, he could only manage (taking) a few steps at a time. ▪ She wasn't feeling well, but she still managed a smile for the photographers. ▪ He's too weak to manage the stairs on his own. [=to go up/down the stairs on his own] — often followed by to + verb ▪ She never studies but always manages to pass her tests. ▪ He always manages to win somehow. ▪ Somehow, they've managed to avoid trouble. ▪ We were poor, but we still managed to have enough to eat. ▪ How'd they manage to get away with it? ▪ It was tough, but we managed not to let the secret out. ▪ Only a few passengers managed to survive the crash. ▪ These plants manage to stay alive with very little water. ▪ They couldn't get tickets, but we managed to. [no obj] ▪ I don't know how we ever managed without you. ▪ It's hard living alone, but somehow I manage. ▪ “Do you need help with that suitcase?” “No, thanks. I think I can manage.”