manual

manual — adjective

1. carried out using a person's hands and physical effort, without the help of mach

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

carried out using a person's hands and physical effort, without the help of machines or tools.

Example

Linh prefers manual sewing to using a machine because she finds it more relaxing.

collocation: manual sewing / manual work / manual skills

The old carpenter taught Ife the manual skills needed to carve wooden furniture.

usually before noun: manual + noun

Common collocations
  • manual work
  • manual skills
  • manual task
  • manual dexterity
  • manual labour
Synonyms
  • hand-operated

    more specific — refers to the way a tool or device is controlled rather than the nature of a task

  • physical

    broader — can refer to any kind of body effort, not just the hands

Antonyms
  • automated

    done entirely by machine without direct human hand action

Usage Note

Frequently describes skills, tasks, or processes that involve dexterity of the hands rather than just general physical strength — distinguish from sense 3 (PHYSICAL WORK), which focuses on the type of job or labour.

Common Mistakes

I need a manual reminder for the meeting.
I need a written reminder for the meeting.
'manual' refers to using the hands or physical effort, not to general physical objects.
She prefers manual work on her computer.
She prefers typing her notes by hand.
When talking about writing by hand on paper, say 'by hand' instead of 'manual work.'

2. describes a tool, device, or machine that a person powers or controls directly u

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

describes a tool, device, or machine that a person powers or controls directly using their hands, without electricity, batteries, or a motor.

Example

Jenna bought a manual can opener after her electric one stopped working.

collocation: manual can opener / manual pump / manual typewriter

The mechanic used a manual tyre pump because the air compressor was broken.

Common collocations
  • manual pump
  • manual typewriter
  • manual transmission
  • manual override
  • manual gearbox
Synonyms
  • hand-powered

    more precise about the energy source being the user's hand

  • non-electric

    broader — includes fuel-powered tools that are not manual

Antonyms

Usage Note

This sense contrasts with electric, battery-powered, or motor-driven versions of the same tool. The predicative position (e.g. 'The pump is manual') is common in comparisons.

Common Mistakes

We bought a manual washing machine.' (meaning a non-automatic model).
We bought a semi-automatic washing machine.
Most household washing machines are powered by electricity; 'manual' for tools implies the user supplies all the power by hand.

3. connected with jobs or activities that involve using the body and physical stren

3.adjectiveB1
Definition

connected with jobs or activities that involve using the body and physical strength instead of the mind or an office environment.

Example

Yumi took a manual job at a warehouse while she finished her college degree.

collocation: manual job / manual worker / manual labour

Construction workers often have to do heavy manual labour outdoors in all weather conditions.

Common collocations
  • manual labour
  • manual worker
  • manual job
  • manual trade
  • manual work
Synonyms
  • physical

    broader — includes any kind of body effort, including sports and exercise

  • blue-collar

    relates to social class and pay type, not just physical effort

Antonyms

Usage Note

Typically used in job descriptions, economic discussions, and contrasts with 'white-collar' or 'office' work. The noun phrase 'manual labour' is the most common collocation.

Common Mistakes

She does manual work on her computer at home.
She does physical work at a construction site.
'Manual work' refers to physical labour, not work done with one's hands on a keyboard.

4. describes a car or other vehicle whose driver selects and changes the gears by o

4.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a car or other vehicle whose driver selects and changes the gears by operating a stick and a clutch pedal, instead of the car doing this automatically.

Example

Eve learned to drive in a manual car and later switched to an automatic.

collocation: manual car / manual gearbox / manual transmission

Manual transmission is still popular in Europe, where drivers prefer more control over the vehicle.

Common collocations
  • manual car
  • manual gearbox
  • manual transmission
  • manual vehicle
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • automatic

    a vehicle whose gears change by themselves

  • self-shifting

    a vehicle where gear changes happen automatically

Usage Note

Only before a noun relating to vehicles and their parts (car, van, transmission, gearbox). The short form 'a manual' is a common noun usage — see noun sense 2 (MANUAL CAR).

Common Mistakes

My car is manual but sometimes I drive it in automatic mode.
My car is a manual.' or 'My car has a manual transmission.
If a car has automatic and manual modes, it is an 'automatic with manual mode,' not a manual car.

manual — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four alternatives relate to the use of hands, but they differ in scope and typical context. 'Hand-operated' focuses specifically on the way a tool or device is controlled: a hand-operated pump requires the user to move a lever, whereas 'manual' in sense 1 describes any task done with the hands (manual sewing, manual sorting). 'Physical' is much broader — it includes any effort of the body (running, lifting, climbing) and is not limited to hand use. 'Handmade' refers to products crafted by hand (handmade pottery, handmade furniture), emphasising artistry rather than the absence of machines. The adverbial phrase 'by hand' (e.g., 'She sorted the envelopes by hand') works as a functional substitute for 'manual' in many contexts, but it is grammatically limited to adverbial use. For example: 'The manual process was slow' cannot be rewritten as 'The by-hand process was slow.' Choose 'hand-operated' for tools, 'physical' for whole-body effort, 'handmade' for crafted goods, and 'by hand' for how an action is performed.

hand-operatedphysical ↗handmade ↗by hand ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • manually

Phrases

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

'Manual' entered English through Old French 'manuel,' from Latin 'manualis' ('belonging to the hand'), which comes from 'manus' ('hand'). The sense of a 'handbook' (noun sense 1) arose in the 15th century because such a book was small enough to be held in one hand. The meaning 'operated by hand rather than machine' (adjective sense 2) developed in the 19th century alongside the Industrial Revolution. The vehicle-gear meaning (adjective sense 4 and noun sense 2) emerged in the early 20th century when early cars gave drivers direct control over gear changes. The military drill sense (noun sense 4) traces to the same root — precise movements 'of the hand' with a weapon.