manifest

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "manifest" is perfectly correct and usable in written English.
It has a variety of meanings, such as to show, demonstrate, or make something clear, or to make something real or present. For example, you could say, "The meeting manifested the urgent need to make changes in our organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The pleasures of the peace have been manifest for the Adams leadership of Sinn Fein.

The Guardian

This could manifest itself in a variety of ways, none of them good.

The Guardian

And it is already manifest that these will involve the rewriting of recent history and the reopening of old wounds.

The Guardian

Those times were the heyday of Jim Crow, eugenics and manifest destiny.

The Guardian - Opinion

Passes were misplaced or dropped, runners were not where ball-carriers expected them to be, a few lineouts malfunctioned and it was only in the scrum, invariably a source of succour against Australia, where they enjoyed manifest superiority, awarded seven free-kicks or penalties to none.

The Guardian - Sport

That would give time for the reforms on policing and criminal justice to manifest, and buy time for the SDLP to claim credit for making the justice system accountable to nationalists.

The Guardian

And the budgetary concerns manifest themselves in unexpected ways.

The Guardian

The government also said it would "end the manifest unfairness whereby Scotland is able to decide its own laws in devolved areas, only for Scottish MPs also to be able to have the potentially decisive say on similar matters that affect only England and Wales".

The Guardian

The point would be to manifest as your womanly true self, not as a celebrity.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We would have to decide whether there was a manifest error on the part of the state authorities concerned, and in particular of the national courts concerned, before we could reject a case as inadmissible under the new criterion... Ultimately, in those cases we would be the ones who would be interpreting the provision and applying it".

The Guardian

Even so, what he is proposing to do to public services if the Conservatives are re-elected is sending shivers down many a spine, as the consequences of a "long-term plan" that favours tax cuts at the expense of public services and national defence become more and more manifest.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "manifest", ensure that the context clearly indicates whether you mean it as an adjective (obvious) or a verb (to show). For instance, avoid ambiguity by providing sufficient context. For example: "The problem became manifest after the audit" (adjective) versus "The data manifested a clear trend" (verb).

Common error

While "manifest" is a perfectly acceptable word, avoid overusing it, especially in formal writing. Over-reliance on "manifest" can make your writing sound stilted or pretentious. Use synonyms like "evident", "clear", or "obvious" to add variety and maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The word "manifest" functions as both an adjective and a verb. As an adjective, it describes something that is easily perceived or understood. As a verb, it means to show or demonstrate something clearly. Ludwig AI indicates that this word is used correctly across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "manifest" functions both as an adjective (meaning evident or obvious) and as a verb (meaning to show or demonstrate). Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and versatile usage. It is frequently encountered in news and media, as well as formal business contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. While semantically rich, it should be used judiciously to avoid overuse. As Ludwig examples show, "manifest" effectively conveys clarity and demonstration, making it a valuable word when precision and formality are desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be evident

Emphasizes the quality of being easily seen or noticed.

be demonstrated

Emphasizes the act of proving or showing something through evidence or example.

become apparent

Focuses on the process of becoming clear or obvious over time, rather than the state of being so.

make clear

Highlights the act of clarifying or making something understandable.

be shown

A general term for something that is visible or demonstrated.

be revealed

Highlights the act of something previously hidden now being uncovered.

be exhibited

Highlights the act of publicly showing something.

be displayed

Focuses on the act of showing something openly for others to see.

materialize

Emphasizes the process of something becoming real or tangible.

come to light

Focuses on the revealing of information or facts that were previously unknown.

FAQs

How can I use "manifest" in a sentence?

You can use "manifest" as a verb meaning to show or display, such as "His anger manifested in his clenched fists". Or, you can use it as an adjective meaning obvious or clear, such as "The error was manifest to everyone".

What are some synonyms for "manifest"?

Some synonyms for "manifest" include "evident", "apparent", "obvious", "clear", and "demonstrate" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "manifest" or "obvious"?

The choice between "manifest" and "obvious" depends on the context and desired tone. "Manifest" often carries a more formal or literary connotation than "obvious".

What is the difference between "manifest" and "manifestation"?

"Manifest" can be an adjective or a verb, meaning clear or to show. "Manifestation" is a noun, referring to an event, action, or object that clearly shows or embodies something, such as "a manifestation of her anxiety".