operate

verb

ˈä-pə-ˌrāt How to pronounce operate (audio)
Definition of operatenext
1
as in to use
to control the mechanical operation of do not operate heavy machinery, including cars, after taking this medication

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about it takes years to learn how to operate that kind of business so that it makes money

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to perform
to produce a desired effect the medicine will take an hour or so to operate the first time you use it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to utilize
to put into action or service wouldn't dream of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of operate The Day premieres on Paramount+ across all territories in which the streamer operates except Germany, Switzerland and Austria. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026 Green and Pink line service has already been disrupted since Oct 12, with tracks not operating between the Clinton and Clark/Lake stations as part of the bridge project. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 That requires the system to understand financial context, follow the rules governing the relevant product, and operate within an institution capable of completing the transaction. — Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026 The two non-profit water authorities have said in a statement that Freda will lead a consolidated management team overseeing both companies, which are to operate independently of one another. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for operate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operate
  1. use
  2. manage
  3. perform
  4. utilize
  5. handle
  6. supervise
  7. work
  8. apply
Verb
  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimates US data centers used about 17 billion gallons of water for cooling in 2023, and that could double or even quadruple by 2028.
    — Adhum Carter Wolde-Lule, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • However, the available demonstration does not specify the training setup, how responsibilities the divided between the learning methods, or the precise control architecture used during execution.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of use
Verb
  • Union Berlin managed to draw at Augsburg 1-1 after a player from each was sent off in separate incidents.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The winner will gain one of five seats on the board that runs the highway district, which is responsible for building, managing and maintaining local roads and bridges countywide — as well as setting ACHD’s nearly $260 million annual budget.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of manage
Verb
  • The opportunity now is to build on these lessons through closer cooperation across governments, industry, technology and capital in order to create energy systems that can perform reliably as demand and complexity continue to grow.
    — H.E. Dr Abdulla Saif Al Jarwan, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • But students in more affluent schools, where Asian American students are concentrated, must perform better on the standardized exam to enter the lottery.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of perform
Verb
  • By contrast, the new fabric utilizes the visible white light that's already being used in hospitals.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026
  • LaBranche has become a master of sleight of hand and confusing defenses as the Warriors utilize a ton of misdirection and a plethora of running backs to keep the opposition guessing about who is getting the ball.
    — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of utilize
Verb
  • Seventy-one percent also doubt that his village cooperatives policy—which plans to establish hubs in roughly 80,000 communities to handle basic-goods distribution, savings, and other rural services—would succeed.
    — Jay Ganglani, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The case remains under investigation and is being handled by the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Division, according to Arcadia police.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of handle
Verb
  • Children under 12 must be accompanied by a supervising companion who is at least 14 years old.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The California Department of State Hospitals contracts with Liberty Healthcare to supervise people convicted of specific crimes and who also struggle with significant mental health conditions.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of supervise
Verb
  • Employee working with open food not wearing effective hair restraint.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • But while critics on the Israeli right railed against the deal, Netanyahu’s deputies worked behind the scenes to preserve it, according to correspondence obtained by TIME.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of work
Verb
  • New safety requirements apply What sets the aircraft apart is its enhanced angle-of-attack system, which Boeing plans to introduce across the 737 MAX family.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The boy was a soccer player who was enchanted by the idea of camping in the woods; Charlotte was bright and cheery, sometimes applying glitter to her father’s mustache.
    — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of apply

Browse Nearby Words

operant
operate
operated
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Cite this Entry

“Operate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operate. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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