FUNCTION Synonyms: 121 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'function' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of function are duty , office , and province . While all these words mean "the acts or operations expected of a person or thing," function implies a definite end or purpose or a particular kind of work. // the function of language is two-fold: to communicate emotion and to give information — Aldous Huxley

Q: In what contexts can 'duty' take the place of 'function'?

Although the words duty and function have much in common, duty applies to a task or responsibility imposed by one's occupation, rank, status, or calling. // it is the judicial duty of the court, to examine the whole case — R. B. Taney

Q: When is 'office' a more appropriate choice than 'function'?

While in some cases nearly identical to function , office is typically applied to the function or service associated with a trade or profession or a special relationship to others. // they exercise the offices of the judge, the priest, the counsellor — W. E. Gladstone

Q: When would 'province' be a good substitute for 'function'?

The words province and function can be used in similar contexts, but province applies to a function, office, or duty that naturally or logically falls to one. // I felt it was not my province to inquire — Anne Brontë

function 1 of 2

noun

ˈfəŋ(k)-shən

Definition of function

as in event

a social gathering made a brief appearance at the annual holiday function

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in position

an assignment at which one regularly works for pay what's your function in this company?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in role

the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists that machine's function is to sort bolts by size

Synonyms & Similar Words

function

2 of 2

verb

as in to serve

to have a certain purpose the heart functions as a pump for the blood

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word function distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of function are duty, office, and province. While all these words mean "the acts or operations expected of a person or thing," function implies a definite end or purpose or a particular kind of work.

the function of language is two-fold: to communicate emotion and to give information — Aldous Huxley

In what contexts can duty take the place of function?

Although the words duty and function have much in common, duty applies to a task or responsibility imposed by one's occupation, rank, status, or calling.

it is the judicial duty of the court, to examine the whole case — R. B. Taney

When is office a more appropriate choice than function?

While in some cases nearly identical to function, office is typically applied to the function or service associated with a trade or profession or a special relationship to others.

they exercise the offices of the judge, the priest, the counsellor — W. E. Gladstone

When would province be a good substitute for function?

The words province and function can be used in similar contexts, but province applies to a function, office, or duty that naturally or logically falls to one.

I felt it was not my province to inquire — Anne Brontë

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 function

Noun

In the role, Morningstar will oversee the ticket sales & service, corporate partnerships and marketing functions across the Timberwolves, Lynx and Iowa Wolves. — Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026 That is a reward-maximizing system doing exactly what the reward function told it to do in a scenario designed to elicit the outcome. — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

Verb

The track was later enhanced in postproduction to function as the whale’s heartbeat in the film. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026 These informative passages function similarly to footnotes, but without the disruption of having to read minuscule print at the bottom of the page. — Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for function

Recent Examples of Synonyms for function

Noun

YouTube Europe boss Pedro Pina, a fixture at these events, reminded producers that the platform won’t take work away from them by entering the production game.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Her cousin, played by Azam Quadri, turns up without warning after 15 years away, and his visit brings back the events that once split the family.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of event

Noun

Maintaining command-and-control links matters when troops rely on aerial sensors to gather information beyond their immediate positions.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Also, the fact that planets in this arrangement slide along their orbit and swap positions means that their positions in that orbit change, which, in turn, changes the timing of the transits.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of position

Noun

While Spain's government has defended Rabat's role in helping the return of the majority of the 80,000 who entered Ceuta, many in Spain, including police and some lawmakers, doubt that Rabat could not have known about the mass movement of people.

— JOSEPH WILSON, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Rusnak agreed that Democrats’ resurgence in Ohio is a result of national politics but added that the state’s candidates have played a role as well.

— Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of role

Verb

The outcome threatens to end the career of Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Dilraba Dilmurat plays the team’s star striker, while Lay Zhang serves as its kung fu mentor, helping the players combine martial arts mastery with soccer skills to overcome formidable opponents and setbacks on and off the field.

— Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of serve

Noun

The president’s party has historically faced challenges in midterm elections.

— Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 20 Oct. 2026
Strategists in both parties said that this redistricting scramble has changed how donors are being approached for state legislative races — rarely the first places where the largest political funders send their cash.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of party

Noun

Combined with its co-founders' pledge to donate 80% of their equity and an employee donation matching program, roughly 20% of Anthropic's shares will be dedicated to public purposes, excluding any additional shares added later.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
Future deployments Placing the geothermal plant on top of a natural hydrothermal vent was a one-time test for purely research and demonstration purposes, Redd said.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of purpose

Verb

The American Civil Liberties Union sued in February, alleging officers hurled racial epithets, acted violently, and largely withheld food, water, bathrooms and medical care.

— Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026
Documents detailing meetings in April and August between the government, the WHO and other health partners, reviewed by Reuters and not previously reported, show how efforts to act fast may have led to shortcomings.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of act

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“Function.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/function. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of function

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verb

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