This meaning means a grown-up boy or male person. It is used to talk about human males, usually adults.
The man is walking to work.
That man is my father.
Here, man means all human beings, both men and women. It is often used to talk about people in general or humanity.
Man has built many big cities.
Man needs clean water to live.
Here, man means a person who does a job, often physical work like in a factory or a shop. It can also mean someone in charge of something.
He is a man at the factory.
The men work hard every day.
As a verb, man means to have people working at a place or using a machine. It shows someone is controlling or taking care of something.
They man the boat together.
Who will man the information desk?
This meaning refers to a man who is respected or well-known in a community. It often shows importance or good character.
He is a good man of the town.
The man who helped us was kind.
This meaning often relates to being brave, strong, or tough—qualities traditionally linked with men. It is sometimes used figuratively to encourage courage.
Be a man and face your fears.
The man showed great bravery.
In some games, a man is a piece or token you move on the board. This meaning is common in games like chess or checkers.
Move your man forward two spaces.
He lost a man in the game.
This is an old or formal meaning for a male servant or helper in a house. It is rarely used in modern English.
The man opened the door for the guests.
The man served dinner quietly.
