as in operational
being in effective operation
the only operating nuclear power plant in the state
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in handling
to control the mechanical operation of
do not operate heavy machinery, including cars, after taking this medication
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in managing
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 working
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 using
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
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Recent Examples of operating
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
The adjusted net income decreased by 8% y-o-y to $3.9 billion in the first nine months of 2022 due to higher expenses as a % of revenues and lower non-operating income.
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2023
Under Proposition 309, voters casting mail-in ballots could provide a driver's license or non-operating identification license number, the last four digits of a social security number, or a unique identifying number provided by the secretary of state for voter registration purposes.
—Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 27 Oct. 2022
Known for many years for its great and famous passenger trains, the last regularly scheduled FECR passenger train ran on July 31, 1968, due to the work stoppage by the non-operating unions that began on January 22, 1963.
—Seth H. Bramson, Sun Sentinel, 12 Oct. 2022
On Monday, as Hasbro released its fourth quarter earnings, the toy maker recorded a $41.3 million net non-cash, non-operating charge associated with the company’s investment in the Discovery Family Channel.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2022
Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
High conversion rate With roughly 15,000 facilities operating nationwide, wastewater treatment represents a massive and constant drain on the American power grid.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Apr. 2026
That means trains are now operating on a full schedule, simulating real service, to prove the system is ready for the public.
—Amanda Starrantino, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
That came weeks after one NWS field office in Goodland that serves 80,000 people in Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska was forced to stop operating around the clock due to a chronic staffing shortage just days before an EF-3 tornado touched down in western Kansas.
—Matthew Kelly
april 22, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
More than half of Sacramento City Unified School District’s schools are operating at under 70% of their maximum-enrollment capacity.
—The Sacramento Bee Staff, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Walker’s work offers a nonpareil example of how sculpture operating as monument is designed to be existentially heavy.
—Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
Armed groups Chen Mechan and Taliban have joined forces with the group 400 Mawozo in clashes with groups operating in Pierre 6 and Terre Noire, in an effort to expand their territorial control.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Johnson demoted Brewer from board chair following the Pettigrew vote, but Brewer has so far rebuffed the mayor’s attempt to demote him from operating chair, and for now he’s supported by a majority of the board.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
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
The adjusted net income decreased by 8% y-o-y to $3.9 billion in the first nine months of 2022 due to higher expenses as a % of revenues and lower non-operating income.
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2023
Under Proposition 309, voters casting mail-in ballots could provide a driver's license or non-operating identification license number, the last four digits of a social security number, or a unique identifying number provided by the secretary of state for voter registration purposes.
—Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 27 Oct. 2022
Known for many years for its great and famous passenger trains, the last regularly scheduled FECR passenger train ran on July 31, 1968, due to the work stoppage by the non-operating unions that began on January 22, 1963.
—Seth H. Bramson, Sun Sentinel, 12 Oct. 2022
On Monday, as Hasbro released its fourth quarter earnings, the toy maker recorded a $41.3 million net non-cash, non-operating charge associated with the company’s investment in the Discovery Family Channel.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2022
Verb
Ann-Marie Guglieri, Yale's executive deputy director/chief operating officer of athletics, and Mary Berdo, deputy director of athletics, the second- and third-ranked positions in the department under Chun, purchased a house together in Milford, Connecticut, in June 2018, the deed shows.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
High conversion rate With roughly 15,000 facilities operating nationwide, wastewater treatment represents a massive and constant drain on the American power grid.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Apr. 2026
That means trains are now operating on a full schedule, simulating real service, to prove the system is ready for the public.
—Amanda Starrantino, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
That came weeks after one NWS field office in Goodland that serves 80,000 people in Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska was forced to stop operating around the clock due to a chronic staffing shortage just days before an EF-3 tornado touched down in western Kansas.
—Matthew Kelly
april 22, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
More than half of Sacramento City Unified School District’s schools are operating at under 70% of their maximum-enrollment capacity.
—The Sacramento Bee Staff, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Walker’s work offers a nonpareil example of how sculpture operating as monument is designed to be existentially heavy.
—Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
Armed groups Chen Mechan and Taliban have joined forces with the group 400 Mawozo in clashes with groups operating in Pierre 6 and Terre Noire, in an effort to expand their territorial control.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Johnson demoted Brewer from board chair following the Pettigrew vote, but Brewer has so far rebuffed the mayor’s attempt to demote him from operating chair, and for now he’s supported by a majority of the board.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operating
Adjective
-
Valerii’s first task each evening was to read the operational log.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The building was closed in the immediate aftermath, but the rest of the plant remained operational, and the tornado did not derail the production launch, the company said.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Chicago Park District has already introduced a new approach to handling some beach lots as the season gets closer.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Despite its affordable £15,000 price tag, the company insists the robot is a tool to empower workers rather than replace them, handling routine tasks so humans can tackle more complex, collaborative challenges.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Despite Magic guard Desmond Bane, clearly under the weather, struggling from beyond the arc but still managing to contribute 17 points.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Vellimalar, a social worker and managing trustee of the company, works with as many as 500 women farmers in the region, explaining government policies, assisting them with loans, and providing farming assistance.—
Kamala Thiagarajan,
NPR,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
King has been working ever since then to bring a Michael Jackson film to theatres, and now only technicalities remained.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
During her college years, Sophie spent her summers working and gaining experience in television and journalism.—
Katie Mannion,
PEOPLE,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sadie Benning and Michael Almereyda have found ghostly, evocative textures using Pixelvision, a Fisher-Price toy camera from the late 1980s.—
Dennis Lim,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Redick worked with James’ trainer Mike Mancias to ensure his 41-year-old star’s durability in the final aughts of the game – the four-time NBA MVP eventually playing a team-high 45 minutes while using any opportunity to sink to the floor for a breather.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Endless is the operative word at Lavo Italian Restaurant’s weekend brunch, where the traditional sit-down meal gives way to a high‑energy, indulgent experience that feels unmistakably Vegas.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Lara’s pre-operative test results were abnormal, and revealed clear signs of keratoconus, making LASIK unsuitable.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her car was parked nearby and the engine was running.—
Douglas Stuart,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
In 2006, Lamont, fueled by his personal fortune and some savvy political advisers, visited local Democratic party committees and immersed himself in the drudgery of running a statewide campaign.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Chavez, a 78-year-old retiree who worked as a foreman supervising construction at the site, also disappeared in May 2025, according to Los Alamos police.—
Natasha Chen,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Goldwyn served as writer and supervising producer on Emily in Paris, and writer on SMILF and Awkwafina is Nora From Queens, among others.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Operating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operating. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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