stage-manage
verb
stage-man·age
ˈstāj-ˌma-nij 
stage-managed; stage-managing; stage-manages
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
Taylor Swift and Katy Perry’s feud — over backup dancers, of all things — was still partly stage-managed.
—
Remy Blumenfeld, HollywoodReporter, 5 Apr. 2025
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Remy Blumenfeld, HollywoodReporter, 5 Apr. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Stage-manage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stage-manage. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share