stage-manage

verb

stage-man·​age ˈstāj-ˌma-nij 

stage-managed; stage-managing; stage-manages

transitive verb

1

a

: to arrange or exhibit so as to achieve a desired effect

b

: to arrange or direct from behind the scenes

2

: to act as stage manager for

stage management noun

Examples of stage-manage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As a presidential candidate, Harris will be just as rigorously stage-managed as Joe Biden was in the closing days of his campaign. —Noah Rothman, National Review, 22 July 2024

Most of Biden’s media appearances have been stage-managed and sparing, and recently, they have been used as a form of damage control. —Candy Woodall, Baltimore Sun, 12 July 2024

Donors to his campaign have been struck by how stage-managed those receptions tend to be. —Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 12 July 2024

Over the next two decades, Fulbright would stage-manage some of the most deeply civic moments of the era. —Charles King, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2021

In fact, most studios stage-managed their contract players’ public images, dressing them on-screen and off. —Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2024

During contests, officials known as expediters stage-manage the athletes. —Alice Li, Washington Post, 14 June 2023

The congress in Beijing has been stage-managed to show support for Mr. Xi’s domestic and foreign policies. —Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from stage manager

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for stage-manage

• manage
• tannage