manual

1 of 2

adjective

man·u·al ˈman-yə-wəl

-yəl,

-yü-əl

Synonyms of manual next

: of, relating to, or involving the hands

manual dexterity

: worked or done by hand and not by machine

a manual transmission

manual computation

manual indexing

: requiring or using physical skill and energy

manual labor

manual workers

manual

2 of 2

noun

: a book that is conveniently handled

especially : handbook

an instruction manual

: the prescribed movements in the handling of a weapon or other military item during a drill or ceremony

the manual of arms

: a keyboard for the hands

specifically : one of the several keyboards of an organ or harpsichord that controls a separate division of the instrument

: a device or apparatus intended for manual operation

: an automobile with a manual transmission

Is your car a manual or an automatic?

called also standard

Example Sentences

Adjective She spent the summer doing manual labor on her uncle's farm. He has a collection of old-fashioned manual typewriters. Noun Here's the owner's manual of your new car. The computer program comes with a user's manual. We lost the instruction manual and couldn't put our bikes together. Please refer to the training manual if you have any questions about your job. Is your car a manual or an automatic? See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Josh lived at the center for three months and participated in manual labor and intensive prayer. —

Lynsey Eidell, Peoplemag, 5 June 2023 In the popular American imagination of that time, Latino identity was often equated with service, manual labor and servility. —

Héctor Tobar Deb Leal, New York Times, 1 June 2023 An autopsy confirmed the remains were Gabby's and the coroner determined her death was a homicide, by manual strangulation. —

Jericka Duncan, CBS News, 27 May 2023 The versatile faucet can be controlled by four methods: hands-free, manual, in-app, or voice. —

Rachel Simon, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 May 2023 The department is working on a centralized system that will move the application process entirely online and eliminate some of the manual paper processing currently in place, Pyle said. —

Karina Elwood, Washington Post, 29 Apr. 2023 Furthermore, by reducing the need for manual labor, businesses can reduce the risk of injuries and accidents in the workplace, creating a safer working environment for employees. —

Peter Su, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2023 The fastest way to manage the problem, the FDA says, is to contact the provider to ask about a manual reset of pressure, either remotely or in person. —

Jen Christensen, CNN, 7 Apr. 2023 Originally, the coupe was available with an automatic transmission, but due to customer disinterest, the Spider comes exclusively with a manual gearbox. —

Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2023

Noun

His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual '97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a '90 Honda CRX Si. —

Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 10 June 2023 To explain his decision, the forest supervisor wrote that the Forest Service manual calls on the agency to help maintain a healthy minerals industry. —

Caitlin Mcglade, The Arizona Republic, 7 June 2023 Meanwhile, manual is ideal for smaller areas like the upper lip, armpits, and bikini lines. —

Sabrina Talbert, Women's Health, 7 June 2023 The new setup, which is connected to an eight-speed manual that sends power to all four wheels, is capable of pumping out a hair-raising 626 hp and 551 ft lbs of torque (590 ft lbs of torque when Dynamic Launch Mode is engaged). —

Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 31 May 2023 The regulators have preferred to treat WOTUS as a sword of Damocles rather than a law, instructing field agents to make case-by-case decisions pursuant to voluminous manuals, often with major regional variations. —

The Editors, National Review, 26 May 2023 The robot sucked up leaves, dead flowers, and other debris that has previously littered our outdoor pool, replacing our routine once-weekly (and very tiring) manual clean. —

Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 13 May 2023 Raffles, based in Singapore, is a luxury brand on par with the Four Seasons and has an 800-page brand-standard manual. —

Christopher Muther, BostonGlobe.com, 4 May 2023 In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association's manual of mental disorders — the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, or D.S.M.-5 — included binge eating as an official eating disorder for the first time. —

Caroline Hopkins, NBC News, 29 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'manual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English manuel, from Anglo-French, from Latin manualis, from manus hand; akin to Old English mund hand and perhaps to Greek marē hand

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of manual was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Manual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manual. Accessed 20 Jun. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

manual

1 of 2 adjective

man·u·al ˈman-yə(-wə)l

: of, relating to, or involving the hands

manual skill

: worked or operated by hand

a car with a manual transmission

: requiring or using physical skill and energy

manual labor

manually

-ē

adverb

manual

2 of 2 noun

: a small book

especially : handbook

: the set movements in the handling of a weapon during a military drill

the manual of arms

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English manuel "relating to the hands, manual," from early French manuel (same meaning), from Latin manualis (same meaning), from manus "hand" — related to manage, maneuver, manufacture see Word History at maneuver