Word forms: plural men, 3rd person singular presenttense mans, present participle manning, past tense, past participle manned
1. countable noun
A man is an adult male human being.
He had not expected the young man to reappear before evening.
...the thousands of men, women and children who are facing starvation.
Synonyms: male, guy [informal], fellow [old-fashioned], gentleman More Synonyms of man
2. variable noun
Man and men are sometimes used to refer to all human beings, including both males and females.Many people prefer to avoid this use.
The chick initially has no fear of man.
Anxiety is modern man's natural state.
...a possible first step to sending a man back to the moon or to Mars.
Synonyms: humankind, humanity, mankind, people More Synonyms of man
3. countable noun
If you say that a man is, for example, a gambling man or an outdoors man, you mean that he likes gambling or outdoor activities.
Are you a gambling man, Mr Graham?
He is a keen outdoors man with a great interest in photography and walking.
4. countable noun
If you say that a man is, for example, a London man or an Oxford man, you mean that he comes from London or Oxford, or went to university there.
...as the Stockport man collected his winnings.
Attlee was an Oxford man.
5. countable noun
If you refer to a particular company's or organization's man, you mean a man who works for or represents that company or organization.
[journalism]
...the Daily Telegraph's man in Abu Dhabi.
...America's man at the United Nations.
6. countable noun [poss NOUN]
If you say that a man is someone's man, you mean that he always supports that person or does what they want.
7. singular noun
Some people refer to someone's husband, lover, or boyfriend as their man.
[informal]
8. plural noun
In the armed forces, the men are soldiers, sailors, marines, or airmen of lower rank, as opposed to the officers.
150 officers and men had to be taken straight to hospital.
...a drill sergeant who would work with the men at least one hour every morning.
9. plural noun [oft poss NOUN]
Male workers are sometimes referred to as men, especially if they do physical work or work for a more senior person.
The men voted by a four-to-one majority to accept the pay offer.
After the talks, the leader of the Workers' Council said his men would be going backdown the mines.
Synonyms: worker, labourer, workman, hand More Synonyms of man
10. vocative noun
One man sometimes addresses another as 'man' when he is angry or impatient with him.
[old-fashioned, feelings]
I told you, man! It'll be sometime after eight o'clock.
11. countable noun
In very informal social situations, man is sometimes used as a greeting or form of address to a man.
[formulae]
Hey wow, man! Where d'you get those boots?
12. verb
If you man something such as a place or machine, you operate it or are in charge of it.
French soldiers manned roadblocks in the capital city. [VERB noun]
...the person manning the phone at the complaints department. [VERB noun]
The station is seldom manned in the evening. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: staff, people, fill, crew More Synonyms of man
13. See also manned, ladies' man, no-man's land
14.
See man enough to/for
15.
See a man's man
16.
See my man
17.
See my good man
18.
See own man
19.
See to a man
20.
See man to man
21. the man in the street
22. man about town
23. man of the world
Phrasal verbs:
See man up
More Synonyms of man
-man
(-mæn)
combining form [ADJECTIVE noun]
-man combines with numbers to make adjectives which indicate that something involves oris intended for that number of people.
...the four-man crew on board the fishing trawler.
He set up a three-man panel to advise him.
...a two-man tent.
man in British English
(mæn)
nounWord forms: pluralmen (mɛn)
1.
an adult male human being, as distinguished from a woman
2. (modifier)
male or masculine
a man child
3. archaic
a human being regardless of sex or age, considered as a representative of humankind; a person
4. (sometimes capital)
human beings collectively; humankind
the development of man
5. Also called: modern man
a.
a member of any of the living races of Homo sapiens, characterized by erect bipedal posture, a highly developed brain, and powers of articulate speech, abstract reasoning, and imagination
b.
any extinct member of the species Homo sapiens, such as Cro-Magnon man
6.
a member of any of the extinct species of the genus Homo, such as Java man, Heidelberg man, and Solo man
7.
an adult male human being with qualities associated with the male, such as courage or virility
be a man
8.
manly qualities or virtues
the man in him was outraged
9.
a.
a subordinate, servant, or employee contrasted with an employer or manager
b.
(in combination)
the number of man-days required to complete a job
10. (usually plural)
a member of the armed forces who does not hold commissioned, warrant, or noncommissioned rank (as in the phrase officers and men)
11.
a member of a group, team, etc
12.
a husband, boyfriend, etc
man and wife
13.
an expression used parenthetically to indicate an informal relationship between speaker and hearer
14.
a movable piece in various games, such as draughts
15. South Africa slang
any person: used as a term of address
16.
a vassal of a feudal lord
17. as one man
18. be one's own man
19. he's your man
20. man and boy
21. sort out the men from the boys
22. to a man
exclamation
23. informal
an exclamation or expletive, often indicating surprise or pleasure
verbWord forms: mans, manning or manned(transitive)
24.
to provide with sufficient people for operation, defence, etc
to man the phones
25.
to take one's place at or near in readiness for action
26. falconry
to induce (a hawk or falcon) to endure the presence of and handling by humans, esp strangers
▶ USAGE The use of man and mankind to mean human beings in general is often considered sexist. Gender-neutral alternativesinclude human beings, people and humankind. The verb to man can also often be replaced by to staff, to operate and related words. Gender-neutral alternatives to manpower include personnel and staff.
Derived forms
manless (ˈmanless)
adjective
Word origin
Old English mann; related to Old Frisian man, Old High German man, Dutch man, Icelandic mathr
Man in British English1
(mæn)
noun
the Man(sometimes not capital) US
1. Black slang
a White man or White men collectively, esp when in authority, in the police, or heldin contempt
2. slang
a drug peddler
Man in British English2
(mæn)
noun
Isle of Man
-man in British English
combining form in countable noun
indicating a person who has a role, works in a place, or operates equipment as specified
salesman
barman
cameraman
▶ USAGE The use of words ending in -man is avoided as implying a male in job advertisements, where sexual discriminationis illegal, and in many other contexts where a term that is not gender-specific isavailable, such as salesperson, barperson, camera operator
Man in American English1
(mæn)
Isle ofone of the British Isles, between Northern Ireland & England: 221 sq mi (572 sq km); pop. 70,000; cap. Douglas
Man in American English2
1.
Manila (paper)
2.
Manitoba
-man in American English
(mən; mæn)
man or person of a (specified) kind, in a (specified) activity, etc.
now often replaced by -person, or -woman, to avoid the masculine implication: pl. form -men
man in American English1
(mæn) (nounplural men, verbmanned, manning)
noun
1.
an adult male person, as distinguished from a boy or a woman
2.
a member of the species Homo sapiens or all the members of this species collectively, without regard to sex
prehistoric man
3.
the human individual as representing the species, without reference to sex; the humanrace; humankind
Man hopes for peace, but prepares for war
4.
a human being; person
to give a man a chance
When the audience smelled the smoke, it was every man for himself
5.
a husband
6.
a male lover or sweetheart
7.
a male follower or subordinate
the king's men
He's the boss's number one man
8.
a male employee or representative, esp. of a company or agency
a Secret Service man
a man from the phone company
9.
a male having qualities considered typical of men or appropriately masculine
Be a man
The army will make a man of you
10.
a male servant
11.
a valet
12. See enlisted man
13.
a male enthusiast or devotee
I like jazz, but I'm essentially a classics man
14. slang
a male friend; ally
You're my main man
15.
a term of familiar address to a man; fellow
Now, now, my good man, please calm down
16. slang
a term of familiar address to a man or a woman
Hey, man, take it easy
17.
one of the pieces used in playing certain games, as chess or checkers
18. History
a liegeman; vassal
19. obsolete
manly character or courage
20. See as one man
21. See be one's own man
22. See man and boy
23. See man's man
24. See the man
25. See to a man
transitive verb
26.
to furnish with men, as for service or defense
27.
to take one's place for service, as at a gun or post
to man the ramparts
28.
to strengthen, fortify, or brace; steel
to man oneself for the dangers ahead
29. Falconry
to accustom (a hawk) to the presence of people
interjection
30. slang
an expression of surprise, enthusiasm, dismay, or other strong feeling
Man, what a ball game!
The use of man to mean “human being,” both alone and in compounds such as mankind, has met with objection in recent years, and the use is declining. The objection isbased on the idea that man is most commonly used as an exclusive, sex-marked noun meaning “male human being.”Critics of the use of man as a generic maintain that it is sometimes ambiguous when the wider sense is intended(Man has built magnificent civilizations in the desert), but more often flatly discriminatory in that it slights or ignores the membershipof women in the human race: The man in the street wants peace, not war. Although some editors and writers reject or disregard these objections to man as a generic, many now choose instead to use such terms as human being(s), human race, humankind, people, or, when called for by style or context, women and men or men and women.
Derived forms
manless
adjective
manlessly
adverb
manlessness
noun
manness
noun
Word origin
[bef. 900; (n.) ME; OE man(n); c. G Mann, D man, ON mathr, Goth manna; (v.) ME mannen, OE mannian to garrison]
man in American English2
(mɑːn, mæn, unstressed mən)
auxiliary verb
Scot
maun
More idioms containing
man
a hatchet man
you can't keep a good man down
a man of straw
the man in the street
the man on the Clapham omnibus
no use to man or beast
someone's right-hand man
Examples of 'man' in a sentence
man
They claim he would turn up at very short notice and was sometimes with younger men.
The Sun (2016)
But my partner says he will leave if this man comes back into our lives.
The Sun (2017)
There is only one man who can pick them up.
The Sun (2016)
Their bodies were spotted by rescue teams looking for another man seen at the top.
The Sun (2017)
He must be the smiling front man and often the one who tells players when they are dropped.
The Sun (2016)
That is a man saying 'I know best.
The Sun (2016)
That same month a 4x4 full of armed men pulled up next to where he was parked.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I consider myself a man of the people.
The Sun (2016)
I was struck recently by the way modern men feel obliged to advise rising generations.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It wasn't just older, white men with less education.
The Sun (2016)
The men had been working on damage to a mains pipeline.
The Sun (2016)
Two other causes of loss of libido in older men are often missed.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There is too much pressure on modern men to attend the birth.
The Sun (2013)
The sketch involved a grown man going back to his boyhood school.
Christianity Today (2000)
It will need a very sharp sprint from one man to overtake the other.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This experience made her feel unable to trust another man.
The Sun (2010)
It followed reports that an armed man had buried himself underground.
The Sun (2011)
Police appealed for witnesses who may have seen the man in the city centre to come forward.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The only defence for either man would be to plead insanity.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
No doubt the different circumstances gave smaller groups of men more time to weigh their options.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
They also felt more angry than the men who suppressed their emotions.
Claudia Hammond EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER: A Journey Through the Science of Feelings (2005)
Former colleagues say he is a man who gets things done.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Young men nowadays prefer computers and video games to football in the streets.
Stewart, Bob (Lt-Col) Broken Lives (1993)
We put men on the moon and dreamt of robots that could vacuum and scrub.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The training of officers improved, as new men replaced the older feudal generals.
Stearns, Peter N. World History: Patterns of Change and Continuity (1995)
Quotations
Man is only a reed, the weakest thing in nature; but he is a thinking reedBlaise PascalPensées
Man is the measure of all thingsProtagoras
Man is heaven's masterpieceFrancis QuarlesEmblems
There are many wonderful things, and nothing is more wonderful than manSophoclesAntigone
Man is a noble animal, splendid in ashes, and pompous in the graveThomas BrowneHydriotaphia
Man is an embodied paradox, a bundle of contradictionsCharles ColtonLacon
The four stages of man are infancy, childhood, adolescence and obsolescenceArt LinkletterA Child's Garden of Misinformation
What a piece of work is man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form, in moving, how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals!William ShakespeareHamlet
Man is something to be surpassedFriedrich NietzcheThus Spake Zarathustra
Man was formed for societyWilliam BlackstoneCommentaries on the Laws of England
man: an animal so lost in rapturous contemplation of what he thinks he is as to overlook what he indubitably ought to beAmbrose BierceThe Devil's Dictionary
Man, became man through work, who stepped out of the animal kingdom as transformer of the natural into the artificial, who became therefore the magicianErnst FischerThe Necessity of Art
The best of men are but men at best
In other languages
man
British English: man /mæn/ NOUN
A man is an adult male human.
A young man walked into the room.
American English: man
Arabic: رَجُل
Brazilian Portuguese: homem
Chinese: 男人
Croatian: čovjek
Czech: muž
Danish: mand
Dutch: man
European Spanish: hombre
Finnish: mies
French: homme
German: Mann
Greek: άντρας
Italian: uomo
Japanese: 男
Korean: 남자
Norwegian: mann
Polish: mężczyzna
European Portuguese: homem
Romanian: bărbat
Russian: мужчина
Latin American Spanish: hombre
Swedish: man karl
Thai: ผู้ชาย
Turkish: erkek
Ukrainian: чоловік
Vietnamese: đàn ông
Definition of 'man'
Chinese translation of 'man'
man
(mæn)
Word forms:plmen
n
(c) (= person) 男人 (nánrén) (个(個), gè)
⇒ Larry was a handsome man in his early fifties.50刚出头的拉里是个帅气的男人。 (Wǔshí gāng chūtóu de Lālǐ shì gè shuàiqì de nánrén.)
(u) (= mankind) 人类(類) (rénlèi)
⇒ the most dangerous substance known to man人类所知的最危险的物质 (rénlèi suǒ zhī de zuì wēixiǎn de wùzhì)
(form of address) 老兄 (lǎoxiōng)
⇒ Hey man, where d'you get those boots?嗨，老兄，你从哪儿搞来的这些靴子？ (Hēi, lǎoxiōng, nǐ cóng nǎr gǎolái de zhèxiē xuēzi?)
(c) (in board game, = piece) 棋子 (qízǐ) (枚, méi)
⇒ Both players begin with the same number of men.双方选手以同样数目的棋子开始比赛。 (Shuāngfāng xuǎnshǒu yǐ tóngyàng shǔmù de qízǐ kāishǐ bǐsài.)
vt
(= staff) 在 ... 值班 (zài ... zhíbān)
⇒ The station is seldom manned in the evening.这个车站晚上很少有人值班。 (Zhège chēzhàn wǎnshang hěn shǎo yǒurén zhíbān.)
a betting/outdoors man好赌(賭)博/户(戶)外活动(動)的人 (hào dǔbó/hùwài huódòng de rén)
man and wife夫妻 (fūqī)
Derived Forms
menn pl (= troops, workers) 雇(僱)员(員) (gùyuán)
⇒ The men voted to accept the pay offer.雇员们投票决定接受工资条件。 (Gùyuánmen tóupiào juédìng jiēshòu gōngzī tiáojiàn.)
All related terms of 'man'
a man
一个(個)男人 yī gè nánrén
best man
男傧(儐)相 nánbīnxiàng [ 位 wèi ]
man-made
人造的 rénzào de
this man
这(這)个(個)男人 zhège nánrén
garbage man
清洁(潔)工 qīngjiégōng [ 位 wèi ] [ 英 = dustman ]
removal man
搬运(運)工 bānyùngōng [ 个(個) gè ]
a young man
一个(個)小伙(夥)子 yī gè xiǎohuǒzi
enlisted man
( US : Mil ) 士兵 shìbīng
lollipop man
为保证儿童安全过马路手持暂停指挥牌的男交通管理员
a masked man
( robber etc ) 戴面具的人 dài miànjù de rén
man and wife
夫妻 fūqī
a man of substance
( frm ) 要人 yàorén
a married man/woman
有妇(婦)之夫/有夫之妇(婦) yǒu fù zhī fū/yǒu fū zhī fù
he is a marked man
他被盯上了 tā bèi dīngshàng le
like a man possessed
像着(著)了魔似的人 xiàng zháole mó shìde rén
that man/woman/book
那个(個)男人/女人/那本书(書) nàge nánrén/nǚrén/nà běn shū
the man that I saw
我见(見)过(過)的那个(個)男的 wǒ jiànguo de nàge nán de
a betting/outdoors man
好赌(賭)博/户(戶)外活动(動)的人 hào dǔbó/hùwài huódòng de rén
a man of the people
同人民打成一片的人 tóng rénmín dǎ chéng yīpiàn de rén
full
( container, cup ) 满(滿)的 mǎn de ⇒ The bucket is almost full. → 桶要满了。 Tǒng yào mǎn le. ( cinema, car, restaurant ) 满(滿)的 mǎn de ⇒ All the car parks are full. → 所有的停车场都满了。 Suǒyǒu de tíngchēchǎng dōu mǎn le.
he's a very busy man
他是个(個)大忙人 tā shì gè dà máng rén
slow
( music, journey, process, speed ) 慢的 màn de ( driver, swimmer, learner ) 迟(遲)钝(鈍)的 chídùn de
to be slow
( watch ) 慢了 màn le
a young man of promise
有希望的小伙(夥)子 yǒu xīwàng de xiǎohuǒzi
the man in the street
普通人 pǔtōngrén
the man/girl/house/book
男人/女孩/房子/书(書) nánrén/nǚhái/fángzi/shū
a man dubbed "the terminator"
被冠以 "终(終)结(結)者"绰(綽)号(號)的人 bèi guàn yǐ "zhōngjiézhě" chuòhào de rén
at a snail's pace
极(極)慢地 jí màn de
snail
蜗(蝸)牛 wōniú [ 只 zhī ]
the man who we met in Sydney
我们(們)在悉尼遇到的那个(個)男子 wǒmen zài Xīní yùdào de nàge nánzǐ
to be the odd man/woman/one out
落单(單)的男人/女人/一人 luòdān de nánrén/nǚrén/yī rén
brim
( of hat ) 帽边(邊) màobiān
overflow
( sink, bath, jug ) 满(滿)得溢出 mǎn de yìchū ( river ) 泛(氾)滥(濫) fànlàn
the man whom I saw/to whom I spoke
我见(見)到的/我跟他说(說)过(過)话(話)的那个(個)男的 wǒ jiàndào de/wǒ gēn tā shuōguo huà de nàge nán de
the man with the grey hat/blue eyes
戴着(著)灰帽子/有蓝(藍)眼睛的男人 dàizhe huī màozi/yǒu lán yǎnjing de nánrén
to be full to the brim
满(滿)到边(邊) mǎn dào biān
to turn forty
满(滿)40岁(歲) mǎn sìshí suì
turn
( change ) 转(轉)变(變) zhuǎnbiàn [ 次 cì ] ⇒ every twist and turn in government policy → 政府政策的每一次扭转 zhèngfǔ zhèngcè de měi yī cì niǔzhuǎn
admiration
钦(欽)佩 qīnpèi
contentment
心满(滿)意足 xīn mǎn yì zú
in admiration
( stare, gasp etc ) 满(滿)怀(懷)钦(欽)佩 mǎn huái qīnpèi
rambling
散步 sànbù
sweaty
满(滿)是汗的 mǎn shì hàn de
casual
( chance : remark ) 漫不经(經)心的 màn bù jīngxīn de (: observer ) 偶然的 ǒurán de
casually
( in a relaxed way ) 漫不经(經)心地 màn bù jīngxīn de
contented
心满(滿)意足的 xīn mǎn yì zú de
dusty
满(滿)是尘(塵)土的 mǎn shì chéntǔ de
inadvertently
漫不经(經)心地 màn bù jīngxīn de
his face was wet with tears
他泪(淚)流满(滿)面 tā lèi liú mǎn miàn
wet
( person, clothes ) 湿(濕)的 shī de ( paint, cement, glue ) 未干(乾)的 wèigān de
1 (noun)
Definition
an adult male human being, as distinguished from a woman
I had not expected the young man to reappear before evening.
Synonyms
male
guy (informal)
I was working with a guy from Vietnam.
fellow (old-fashioned)
He appeared to be a fine fellow.
gentleman
bloke (British, informal)
He is a really nice bloke.
chap (British, informal)
Her husband's a very decent chap.
dude (US, informal)
geezer (informal)
an old bald geezer in a raincoat
adult male
2 (noun)
Definition
a human being of either sex
a possible step to sending a man back to the moon
Synonyms
human
The drug has not yet been tested on humans.
human being
not to hear a fellow human being's voice
body (informal)
person
Sam's the only person who can do the job.
individual
the rights and responsibilities of the individual
adult
being
beings from outer space
somebody
soul
a tiny village of only 100 souls
personage
3 (noun)
Definition
human beings collectively
Anxiety is modern man's natural state.
Synonyms
humankind
one of the age-old practices of humankind
humanity
They face charges of committing crimes against humanity.
mankind
the evolution of mankind
people
mortals
human race
Homo sapiens
4 (noun)
Definition
a husband, boyfriend, or male lover
Does your man cuddle you enough?
Synonyms
partner
His partner has been an important source of support.
boy
husband
I married my husband Jack in 2015.
lover
They became lovers soon after they first met.
mate
We found our ideal mates in one another.
boyfriend
Her children were forbidden from having girlfriends and boyfriends.
squeeze (informal)
old man (informal)
Luckily for me her old man was otherwise engaged.
groom
spouse
living with someone other than a spouse
sweetheart
I married my childhood sweetheart, in Liverpool.
beau (old-fashioned)
She appeared with her new beau.
significant other (informal, mainly US)
5 (noun)
Definition
an employee, servant, or representative
The men voted to accept the pay offer.
Synonyms
worker
Wages have been frozen and workers laid off.
labourer
Her husband had been a farm labourer.
workman
The workmen were building a fence around the area.
hand
He now works as a farm hand.
employee
Many of the company's employees are women.
subordinate
blue-collar worker
hireling
6 (noun)
Definition
an employee, servant, or representative
Synonyms
manservant
They were waited on by a manservant.
servant
She couldn't lift a spoon without a servant.
follower
the ringleader and his two thuggish followers
attendant
He was working as a car-park attendant.
retainer
the ever-faithful family retainer
valet
He stayed on to serve his master as valet and then butler.
7 (noun)
Synonyms
subject
His subjects regard him as a great and wise monarch.
soldier
vassal
the vassal's oath of homage to his lord
liegeman
(verb)
Definition
to provide with sufficient people for operation or defence
Soldiers manned roadblocks in the city.
Synonyms
staff
They are staffed by volunteers.
people
a small town peopled by workers and families
fill
a widowed father struggling to fill the role of both parents
crew
occupy
Alexandretta had been occupied by the French in 1918.
garrison
British troops still garrisoned the country.
furnish with men
idioms
See man to man
See to a man
related words
related adjectivesanthropicanthropoidanthropoidal
related maniaandromania
related phobiaandrophobiaanthropophobia
Quotations
Man is only a reed, the weakest thing in nature; but he is a thinking reed [Blaise Pascal – Pensées]Man is the measure of all things [Protagoras]Man is heaven's masterpiece [Francis Quarles – Emblems]There are many wonderful things, and nothing is more wonderful than man [Sophocles – Antigone]Man is a noble animal, splendid in ashes, and pompous in the grave [Thomas Browne – Hydriotaphia]Man is an embodied paradox, a bundle of contradictions [Charles Colton – Lacon]The four stages of man are infancy, childhood, adolescence and obsolescence [Art Linkletter – A Child's Garden of Misinformation]What a piece of work is man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form, in moving, how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! [William Shakespeare – Hamlet]Man is something to be surpassed [Friedrich Nietzche – Thus Spake Zarathustra]Man was formed for society [William Blackstone – Commentaries on the Laws of England]man: an animal so lost in rapturous contemplation of what he thinks he is as to overlook what he indubitably ought to be [Ambrose Bierce – The Devil's Dictionary]Man, became man through work, who stepped out of the animal kingdom as transformer of the natural into the artificial, who became therefore the magician [Ernst Fischer – The Necessity of Art]
proverb
The best of men are but men at best
Additional synonyms
in the sense of attendant
Definition
a person who assists, guides, or provides a service
He was working as a car-park attendant.
Synonyms
assistant,
guide,
guard,
servant,
companion,
aide,
escort,
follower,
steward,
waiter,
usher,
warden,
helper,
auxiliary,
custodian,
page,
menial,
concierge,
underling (derogatory),
lackey,
chaperon,
flunky
in the sense of beau
Definition
a boyfriend
She appeared with her new beau.
Synonyms
boyfriend,
man,
guy (informal),
date,
lover,
young man,
steady,
escort,
admirer,
fiancé,
sweetheart,
suitor,
swain (archaic),
toy boy,
leman (archaic),
fancy man (slang),
bae (US, informal)
in the sense of being
Definition
a human being
beings from outer space
Synonyms
individual,
thing,
body (informal),
animal,
creature,
human being,
beast,
mortal,
living thing
Synonyms of 'man'
man
Explore 'man' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bloke
Definition
a man
He is a really nice bloke.
Synonyms
man,
person,
individual,
customer (informal),
character (informal),
guy (informal),
fellow (old-fashioned),
punter (informal),
chap,
boy,
bod (informal),
bastard (offensive, informal),
bugger (taboo, slang)
in the sense of body
Definition
a person
Synonyms
person,
being,
human,
individual,
creature,
human being,
mortal
in the sense of boyfriend
Definition
a male friend with whom a person is romantically or sexually involved
Her children were forbidden from having girlfriends and boyfriends.
Synonyms
sweetheart,
man,
lover,
young man,
steady,
beloved,
valentine,
admirer,
suitor,
beau (old-fashioned),
date,
swain (archaic),
toy boy,
truelove,
leman (archaic),
inamorato,
boyf,
BF or bf (informal),
bae (US, informal)
in the sense of chap
Definition
a man or boy
Her husband's a very decent chap.
Synonyms
fellow (old-fashioned),
man,
person,
individual,
type,
sort,
customer (informal),
character,
guy (informal),
bloke (British, informal),
cove (slang),
dude (informal),
boykie (South Africa, informal)
in the sense of employee
Definition
a person who is hired to work for someone in return for payment
Many of the company's employees are women.
Synonyms
worker,
labourer,
or woman or person">workman or woman or person,
staff member,
member of staff,
hand,
wage-earner,
white-collar worker,
blue-collar worker,
hired hand,
job-holder,
member of the workforce
in the sense of fellow
Definition
a man or boy
He appeared to be a fine fellow.
Synonyms
man,
boy,
person,
individual,
customer (informal),
character,
guy (informal),
bloke (British, informal),
punter (informal),
chap (informal),
boykie (South Africa, informal)
in the sense of fill
Definition
to meet (a requirement or need) satisfactorily
a widowed father struggling to fill the role of both parents
Synonyms
fulfil,
hold,
perform,
carry out,
occupy,
take up,
execute,
discharge,
officiate
in the sense of follower
the ringleader and his two thuggish followers
Synonyms
attendant,
assistant,
companion,
helper,
sidekick (slang),
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person,
retainer,
hanger-on,
minion,
lackey
in the sense of garrison
Definition
to station (soldiers) in (a fort or base)
British troops still garrisoned the country.
Synonyms
occupy,
protect,
guard,
defend,
man,
supply with troops
in the sense of geezer
Definition
a man
an old bald geezer in a raincoat
Synonyms
man,
guy (informal),
male,
gentleman,
bloke (British, informal),
chap (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of guy
Definition
a person of either sex
I was working with a guy from Vietnam.
Synonyms
man,
person,
fellow (old-fashioned),
lad,
cat (obsolete, slang),
bloke (British, informal),
chap
in the sense of hand
Definition
a manual worker
He now works as a farm hand.
Synonyms
worker,
employee,
labourer,
workman,
operative,
or woman or person">craftsman or woman or person,
artisan,
artificer,
hired man,
hireling
in the sense of human being
Definition
a man, woman, or child
not to hear a fellow human being's voice
Synonyms
human,
man,
woman,
person,
mortal
in the sense of humanity
Definition
the human race
They face charges of committing crimes against humanity.
Synonyms
the human race,
humankind,
mankind,
man,
men,
men and women,
people,
mortals,
Homo sapiens
in the sense of husband
Definition
the man to whom a person is married
I married my husband Jack in 2015.
Synonyms
partner,
man (informal),
spouse,
hubby (informal),
mate,
old man (informal),
bridegroom,
significant other (informal, US),
better half (humorous),
squeeze (informal)
in the sense of individual
Definition
a single person, esp. when regarded as distinct from others
the rights and responsibilities of the individual
Synonyms
person,
being,
human,
party (informal),
body (informal),
type,
unit,
character (informal),
soul,
creature,
human being,
mortal,
personage,
living soul
in the sense of labourer
Definition
a person engaged in physical work
Her husband had been a farm labourer.
Synonyms
worker,
or woman or person">workman or woman or person,
working man or woman or person,
manual worker,
hand,
blue-collar worker,
drudge,
unskilled worker,
navvy (British, informal),
labouring man
in the sense of lover
Definition
either of the people involved in a love affair
They became lovers soon after they first met.
Synonyms
sweetheart,
beloved,
loved one,
beau (old-fashioned),
flame (informal),
mistress,
admirer,
suitor,
swain (archaic),
lady or gentleman friend,
man or woman friend,
toy boy,
paramour (old-fashioned),
leman (archaic),
fancy bit (slang, old-fashioned),
boyfriend or girlfriend,
bae (US, informal),
fancy man or fancy woman (slang, old-fashioned),
fiancé or fiancée,
inamorata or inamorato (rare),
Wag (British, informal)
in the sense of mankind
Definition
human beings collectively
the evolution of mankind
Synonyms
people,
man,
humanity,
human race,
humankind,
Homo sapiens
in the sense of mate
Definition
a marriage partner
We found our ideal mates in one another.
Synonyms
partner,
lover,
companion,
spouse,
squeeze (informal),
consort,
significant other (informal, US),
better half (humorous),
helpmeet,
husband or wife,
bidie-in (Scottish),
M8
Additional synonyms
in the sense of occupy
Definition
to move in and take control of (a country or other place)
Alexandretta had been occupied by the French in 1918.
Synonyms
invade,
take over,
capture,
seize,
conquer,
keep,
hold,
garrison,
overrun,
annex,
take possession of,
colonize,
cybersquat
in the sense of old man
Definition
one's husband
Luckily for me her old man was otherwise engaged.
Synonyms
husband,
man (informal),
partner,
mate,
squeeze (informal),
spouse,
significant other (informal, US),
better half (humorous),
bidie-in (Scottish)
in the sense of people
Definition
to provide with inhabitants
a small town peopled by workers and families
Synonyms
inhabit,
occupy,
settle,
populate,
colonize
in the sense of person
Definition
an individual human being
Sam's the only person who can do the job.
Synonyms
individual,
being,
body (informal),
human,
soul,
creature,
human being,
mortal,
living soul,
man or woman
in the sense of retainer
Definition
a servant who has been with a family for a long time
the ever-faithful family retainer
Synonyms
servant,
domestic,
attendant,
valet,
supporter,
dependant,
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person,
footman,
lackey,
vassal,
flunky
in the sense of servant
Definition
a person employed to do household work for another person
She couldn't lift a spoon without a servant.
Synonyms
attendant,
domestic,
slave,
maid,
help,
helper,
retainer,
menial,
drudge,
lackey,
vassal,
skivvy (British),
servitor (archaic),
varlet (archaic),
liegeman
in the sense of soul
Definition
a person
a tiny village of only 100 souls
Synonyms
person,
being,
human,
individual,
body,
creature,
mortal,
man or woman
in the sense of spouse
Definition
a person's partner in marriage
living with someone other than a spouse
Synonyms
partner,
mate,
husband or wife,
companion,
consort,
significant other (informal, US),
better half (humorous),
her indoors (British, slang),
helpmate,
bidie-in (Scottish),
squeeze (informal)
in the sense of sweetheart
Definition
one's boyfriend or girlfriend
I married my childhood sweetheart, in Liverpool.
Synonyms
love,
boyfriend or girlfriend,
beloved,
lover,
steady (informal),
flame (informal),
darling,
follower (obsolete),
valentine,
admirer,
suitor,
beau (old-fashioned),
swain (archaic),
truelove,
leman (archaic),
inamorata or inamorato,
bae (US, informal)
in the sense of valet
Definition
a male servant employed to look after another man
He stayed on to serve his master as valet and then butler.
Synonyms
manservant,
man,
attendant,
gentleman's gentleman
Additional synonyms
in the sense of vassal
Definition
(in feudal society) a man who gave military service to a lord in return for protection and often land
the vassal's oath of homage to his lord
Synonyms
serf,
slave,
bondsman,
subject,
retainer,
thrall,
varlet (archaic),
bondservant,
liegeman
in the sense of workman
Definition
a man who is employed to do manual work
The workmen were building a fence around the area.
Synonyms
labourer,
hand,
worker,
employee,
mechanic,
operative,
or woman or person">craftsman or woman or person,
artisan,
tradesperson,
journeyman or woman,
artificer (rare)
All related terms of 'man'
he-man
muscle man, hunk, Hercules, Atlas, Tarzan
old man
senior citizen, grandfather, patriarch, old age pensioner, old person