operate

verb

op·er·ate ˈä-pə-ˌrāt

ˈä-ˌprāt

operated; operating

Synonyms of operate next

intransitive verb

: to perform a function : exert power or influence

factors operating against our success

: to produce an appropriate effect

the drug operated quickly

: to perform an operation or a series of operations

The refinery is planning to begin operating as soon as possible.

: to perform surgery

The surgeon has been operating all morning.

: to carry on a military or naval action or mission

The army will operate in conjunction with the air force.

: to follow a course of conduct that is often irregular

crooked gamblers operating in the club

transitive verb

: bring about, effect

: to cause to function : work

operate an automobile

: to put or keep in operation

operated a grocery store

: to perform an operation on

especially : to perform surgery

—usually used with on

operate on a patient

operating on a brain tumor

Examples of operate in a Sentence

They hope to have the windmill operating again tomorrow. The camera also operates underwater. The machine can operate at high speeds. instructions for operating the new microwave oven a license to operate a motor vehicle The café is owned and operated by a young couple. The organization operates a recycling program. It's the only casino operating in the state. The company operates from Chicago. a militant group operating against the government See More

Recent Examples on the Web That agreement would form a new joint powers authority to operate the hospital, and Tri-City’s assets and liabilities would be transferred to the university health system. —

Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023 The hospital, which was financed by the Indonesian government and operated by the Gaza Health Ministry, was hit around 2:30 a.m. after Israeli tanks drew closer to the compound amid constant shelling and gunfire, according to a nurse and a hospital administrator. —

Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 21 Nov. 2023 The intense jamming of radio communications and GPS in Ukraine has only accelerated the shift, as autonomous drones can often keep operating even when communications are cut off. —

Eric Lipton, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2023 Architects made the aesthetic choice to raise the city on a platform, allowing the pods to operate one level below in the shade — a fortuitous choice, because their batteries would have struggled in the UAE’s heat. —

Chico Harlan, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023 With war crimes investigators and international journalists unable to operate independently in Gaza, United Nations officials and open-source data researchers say the full details of Israel’s bombing campaign remain largely unknown. —

Anna Schecter, NBC News, 21 Nov. 2023 The best induction ranges should heat up quickly, transfer heat thoroughly and be easy to operate and understand. —

Laura Denby, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Nov. 2023 In this conception, OpenAI would operate more like a research facility or a think tank. —

Karen Hao, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2023 Medieval people were detailed investigators of the natural world and believed the same forces that shaped the landscape and the stars operated inside bodies formed from the same four elements of earth, water, air and fire. —

Meg Leja, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'operate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin operātus, past participle of operārī "to work, be efficacious, effect, produce," going back to Latin, "to busy oneself, be at work," probably back-formation from operātus "busy, engaged, occupied with religious observances," from opera "activity, effort" + -ātus -ate entry 3 — more at opera entry 2

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of operate was in 1588

See more words from the same year