manifest

[man-uh-fest]

verb (used with object)

1. to make clear or evident; show plainly.

   He manifested his approval with a hearty laugh.

   Synonyms: express, declare, demonstrate, evidence, evince, disclose, reveal
   Antonyms: conceal

2. to prove; put beyond doubt or question.

   The evidence manifests the guilt of the defendant.

3. to attempt to attain (something desired) by thinking or focusing intensely on it, especially as a spiritual or self-help practice.

   I'm manifesting a new job this year.

   We cut out toxic people and manifested new friends more on our wavelength.

4. to record in the manifest of a ship, airplane, train, etc.

verb (used without object)

1. to appear or become apparent.

   The change we've been agitating for is finally manifesting in public policy.

   Damage to the house's foundation can manifest slowly over time.

2. to be created; take form.

   The course allows designers to visualize how their designs could manifest.

   His book claims we are beings of light that have manifested in physical bodies.

3. Medicine/Medical.

   1. (of a disease or injury) to become evident through the appearance of particular symptoms.

      This type of infection typically manifests with rashes, swelling, and pain.

   2. (of a patient) to have a certain symptom or medical condition.

      People who experience work-related stress often manifest with chronic digestive disorders.

4. to attempt to attain something desired by thinking about or focusing intensely on it, especially as a spiritual or self-help practice.

   The guru was trying to teach us how to manifest by using meditation and deep concentration.

adjective

1. readily perceived; evident; obvious; apparent; plain.

   The data you've shown us contains a manifest error.

   Synonyms: conspicuous, visible, palpable, open, patent, unmistakable, distinct, clear
   Antonyms: obscure

2. Psychoanalysis.,  of or relating to conscious feelings, ideas, and impulses that contain repressed psychic material.

   the manifest content of a dream as opposed to the latent content that it conceals.

noun

1. a list of the cargo or goods carried by a ship, airplane, train, etc., made for the use of various agents and officials at the points of destination.

2. a list of the passengers carried on a ship, airplane, train, etc.

manifest

/ ˈmænɪˌfɛst /

adjective

1. easily noticed or perceived; obvious; plain

2. psychoanal of or relating to the ostensible elements of a dream Compare latent

   manifest content

verb

1. (tr) to show plainly; reveal or display

   to manifest great emotion

2. (tr) to prove beyond doubt

3. (intr) (of a disembodied spirit) to appear in visible form

4. (tr) to list in a ship's manifest

noun

1. a customs document containing particulars of a ship, its cargo, and its destination

2. 1. a list of cargo, passengers, etc, on an aeroplane

   2. a list of railway trucks or their cargo

   3. a fast freight train carrying perishables

Other Word Forms

• manifestness noun
• manifestly adverb
• manifestable adjective
• manifester noun
• nonmanifest adjective
• nonmanifestness noun
• premanifest verb
• remanifest verb (used with object)
• self-manifest adjective
• supermanifest verb (used with object)
• unmanifest adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of manifest¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; (adjective) Middle English manifest(e), from Latin manifestus, manufestus “detected in the act, evident, visible”; (verb) Middle English manifesten, from Middle French manifester, from Latin manifestāre, derivative of manifestus. See manus

Word History and Origins

Origin of manifest¹

C14: from Latin manifestus plain, literally: struck with the hand, from manū with the hand + -festus struck

Synonym Study

See display.

Example Sentences

Investors more often than not fail to appreciate Aghion’s insight, since the diminution in future economic growth that results from protectionism only manifests itself over the longer term.

Read more on MarketWatch

For Lorraine, burnout manifested physically and mentally - including "not wanting to go near" cakes.

Read more on BBC

The first, “Scanlines,” concerns German and American artists fascinated by the “electron beam that moved across the screen from left to right and top to bottom” to manifest an image.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Villainy manifests in enough guises across the genre to make one feel lucky to have avoided some criminal’s trap.

Read more on Salon

“There is a lot of geopolitical uncertainty…and there is considerable uncertainty around how the economy manifests itself in terms of Fed policy,” said Ted Pick, CEO of Morgan Stanley.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• demonstrate 
• embody 
• illustrate 
• prove 
• reveal 
• signify 

When To Use

What does manifest mean?

Manifest describes something that is readily understood, obvious, or apparent upon viewing, as in Saying the sky is full of flying pigs is manifest nonsense.To manifest something is to prove beyond all doubt, as in Climate change is manifesting itself through the increase of superstorms.To manifest also means to display or show plainly, as in Clara’s embarrassment manifested itself on her face as a blush.A manifest is a list of cargo carried by a plane, ship, truck, or train. To manifest the cargo is to list it on a manifest.Example: He managed to manifest a smile despite being so uncomfortable.