operate
verb
op·er·ate
ˈä-pə-ˌrāt 
ˈä-ˌprāt
operated; operating
1
: to perform a function : exert power or influence
factors operating against our success
2
: to produce an appropriate effect
the drug operated quickly
3
a
: to perform an operation or a series of operations
The refinery is planning to begin operating as soon as possible.
b
: to perform surgery
The surgeon has been operating all morning.
c
: to carry on a military or naval action or mission
The army will operate in conjunction with the air force.
4
: to follow a course of conduct that is often irregular
crooked gamblers operating in the club
1
2
a
: to cause to function : work
operate an automobile
b
: to put or keep in operation
operated a grocery store
3
: 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
Recent Examples on the Web
Delta operates the world’s largest single airline hub at Atlanta.
—
Ted Reed, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
The benefit is the ability to use a single keyboard, mouse, or trackpad to operate both the Mac and the iPad.
Sidecar, on the other hand, solely turns your iPad into a wireless secondary display.
—Brenda Stolyar, Wired News, 10 May 2025
By the Wednesday evening, every survivor requiring surgery had been operated on at least once in the four theatres set up at St Luke’s Hospital, staffed by plastic surgeons from across the country who had volunteered their services.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 10 May 2025
The warehouse and distribution center will operate alongside the LEGO factory being built in Virginia, which is set to open in 2027.
—Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for operate
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Ted Reed, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
The benefit is the ability to use a single keyboard, mouse, or trackpad to operate both the Mac and the iPad.
Sidecar, on the other hand, solely turns your iPad into a wireless secondary display.
—Brenda Stolyar, Wired News, 10 May 2025
By the Wednesday evening, every survivor requiring surgery had been operated on at least once in the four theatres set up at St Luke’s Hospital, staffed by plastic surgeons from across the country who had volunteered their services.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 10 May 2025
The warehouse and distribution center will operate alongside the LEGO factory being built in Virginia, which is set to open in 2027.
—Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for operate
Cite this Entry
“Operate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/operate. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
operate
verb
op·er·ate
ˈäp-(ə-)ˌrāt
operated; operating
1
: to work or cause to work in a proper way
how to operate the new microwave oven
2
: to take effect
a drug that operates quickly
3
: manage sense 1
operate a business
4
a
: to perform an operation or a series of operations
b
: to perform surgery
operate on a patient
Medical Definition
operate
verb
op·er·ate
ˈäp-(ə-)ˌrāt
operated; operating
: to perform surgery
: to perform surgery on
operated the growth
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