as in operating
being in effective operation
looked for a functioning washing machine, but the few that weren't broken were in use
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in activity
Related Words
as in acting
to have a certain purpose
the heart functions as a pump for the blood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of functioning
ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Velasquez said Chait placed a strong emphasis on communication, recalling that district leaders recently sent administrators guidance on reassuring families that schools would remain safe and functioning.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
At the same time, Maguire ventured into opposition territory to serve as an emergency centre-forward — rarely a sign of a functioning game plan.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
New Yorkers deserve and require a fully functioning and cohesive government.
—Kirsten John Foy, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Police say the driver stopped at the non-functioning signal but did not see the teen in the crosswalk before proceeding.
—Tori Mason, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
The winning team later enjoyed a luxury yacht complete with a private chef, while the losing team slept on the smallest vessel—without a functioning toilet.
—Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
The cozy accommodations are stocked with a selection of Southern books and some retain original features like non-functioning fireplaces.
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
Immigrants make up nearly one quarter of Illinois’ workforce and are essential to industries that keep communities healthy and functioning.
—Anabel Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
The Middle East accounts for 9% of the world’s production of aluminum, an abundant metal that is essential to the functioning of the global economy given its importance to a wide range of industries, including packaging, aerospace, and transportation.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
These different findings have led researchers to suggest that vagus nerve stimulation could act as an effective regulator for the locus coeruleus, enabling it to establish just the right level of activity for optimal functioning.
—Elizabeth Riley, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
The behavior is especially impactful for young boys whose brains are still developing; teenagers’ executive functioning, abstract thinking and decision-making skills continue to form through age 25.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Typically, however, it can be defined as one that, for any number of reasons, results in problematic functioning.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 15 Mar. 2026
Children who are older-elementary age, parents must assess their development and functioning.
—Cheyenne Derksen, Oklahoman, 13 Mar. 2026
James Powel, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Australians have a complicated relationship with the Sun, suffering the world’s highest melanoma rates even with a functioning ozone layer.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
It’s surrounded by big, fascinating ideas rather than functioning as a source of them.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
With 435 public schools now functioning as shelters, formal education for tens of thousands has abruptly stopped.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Also affecting Kosovo's economic situation has been a prolonged political crisis that left the country without a fully functioning government for much of last year.
—ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
Despite absolute rulership always resting with the ayatollah, Iran has some functioning republican institutions, including presidential elections.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026
The knowledge from these fire survivors — and their soil data — helped inform the scientists’ soil testing in all regions, functioning as a kind of citizen science component.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026
Travelers deserve functioning airports.
—Arden Farhi, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Investigators say the error was compounded by non-functioning signal systems along with failures in staffing, oversight and maintenance during years of delays in safety upgrades.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Velasquez said Chait placed a strong emphasis on communication, recalling that district leaders recently sent administrators guidance on reassuring families that schools would remain safe and functioning.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
At the same time, Maguire ventured into opposition territory to serve as an emergency centre-forward — rarely a sign of a functioning game plan.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
New Yorkers deserve and require a fully functioning and cohesive government.
—Kirsten John Foy, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Police say the driver stopped at the non-functioning signal but did not see the teen in the crosswalk before proceeding.
—Tori Mason, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
The winning team later enjoyed a luxury yacht complete with a private chef, while the losing team slept on the smallest vessel—without a functioning toilet.
—Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
The cozy accommodations are stocked with a selection of Southern books and some retain original features like non-functioning fireplaces.
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
Immigrants make up nearly one quarter of Illinois’ workforce and are essential to industries that keep communities healthy and functioning.
—Anabel Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
Noun
But embedded in the hour is a better special functioning as a love letter to his mom.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
The Middle East accounts for 9% of the world’s production of aluminum, an abundant metal that is essential to the functioning of the global economy given its importance to a wide range of industries, including packaging, aerospace, and transportation.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
These different findings have led researchers to suggest that vagus nerve stimulation could act as an effective regulator for the locus coeruleus, enabling it to establish just the right level of activity for optimal functioning.
—Elizabeth Riley, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
The behavior is especially impactful for young boys whose brains are still developing; teenagers’ executive functioning, abstract thinking and decision-making skills continue to form through age 25.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Typically, however, it can be defined as one that, for any number of reasons, results in problematic functioning.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 15 Mar. 2026
Children who are older-elementary age, parents must assess their development and functioning.
—Cheyenne Derksen, Oklahoman, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
The library is planned along Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami on a group of at least 10 lots of vacant land now functioning as a parking lot, according to Miami-Dade County property records.
—James Powel, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Australians have a complicated relationship with the Sun, suffering the world’s highest melanoma rates even with a functioning ozone layer.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
It’s surrounded by big, fascinating ideas rather than functioning as a source of them.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
With 435 public schools now functioning as shelters, formal education for tens of thousands has abruptly stopped.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Also affecting Kosovo's economic situation has been a prolonged political crisis that left the country without a fully functioning government for much of last year.
—ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
Despite absolute rulership always resting with the ayatollah, Iran has some functioning republican institutions, including presidential elections.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026
The knowledge from these fire survivors — and their soil data — helped inform the scientists’ soil testing in all regions, functioning as a kind of citizen science component.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026
Travelers deserve functioning airports.
—Arden Farhi, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functioning
Adjective
-
Exxon operates some of the wells directly and holds a financial, non-operating interest in the others.—
Rachel Nostrant,
Houston Chronicle,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Last year, though revenue and operating profit increased, non-operating red ink pushed the company into a full-year loss of NT$766 million, or $25 million.—
Russell Flannery,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The Kings never had the defensive activity to disrupt them much.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Harrell was again out at practice without a knee brace, working through individual periods with the other quarterbacks — but not a part of team activities or any live action, according to Albin.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Justice Department, which is ultimately responsible for bringing criminal cases of insider trading, is acting, all too often, as an arm of the White House.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Annual middle-class income requirements are high, ranging from $80,000–$90,000 for a single adult to over $130,000 for families, with housing and childcare acting as primary cost drivers.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Arak plant has not been operational since Israel attacked it last June.—
Farnoush Amiri,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Solar customers who had their systems installed under earlier iterations of the tariff still get compensated at the retail rate for 20 years from the time their systems became operational before the new rules affect them.—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Senor and Stephens are neoconservatives who hardly needed to be convinced that the members of progressive movements were not friends of the Jewish people.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The No Kings movement hasn't depended on the Democratic Party to organize its protests; it's built its own infrastructure using social media and digital resources.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The sixth-year senior saw limited action last season in the ACC with Pittsburgh, serving as the Panthers’ third-string quarterback and tossing just 22 passes on the year.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Uchral Nyam-Osor, the current party chairman who is serving as speaker of the Parliament, was nominated at a meeting of the Mongolian People's Party, according to state news agency Montsame.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
These laws are only required today because Democrats have put in place operative policies that allow for people who are not legal voters to be voting.—
Special to the Sun-Sentinel,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Then, trace your finger to its peak, which, to me, was his starring role as smoldering special forces operative Scott McCoy in the 1986 action movie The Delta Force, co-starring a frail-looking but grizzled and unsmiling Lee Marvin in his last movie.—
John DeVore,
Rolling Stone,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Big 12 Player of the Year is coming off of one of her best performances as a Horned Frog with 28 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in the win over Virginia in the Sweet 16.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Espionage is never a solo performance.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Functioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functioning. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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