A maneuver is a carefully planned movement or action, especially one that requires skill. When a pilot performs a complex maneuver, she guides her aircraft through a specific pattern like a barrel roll or sharp turn. A driver might execute a parallel parking maneuver by carefully steering into a tight space. Ships maneuver through narrow harbors, and soccer players maneuver around defenders to reach the goal.

The word implies purpose and technique. Anyone can walk across a room, but maneuvering through a crowded hallway at school means navigating strategically, finding gaps, and timing your movements.

People also use maneuver to describe clever social or political actions. A student might maneuver to sit next to a friend by arriving early and saving a seat. A negotiator maneuvers to get a better deal by presenting information at just the right moment. In this sense, maneuvering means working skillfully within rules and circumstances to achieve what you want.

Military leaders speak of tactical maneuvers, coordinated movements of troops or vehicles. When you successfully maneuver through a challenge, you've combined thinking and doing to reach your goal.