as in served
to have a certain purpose
the heart functions as a pump for the blood
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Recent Examples of functioned
Investigators say these operations functioned like businesses, with recruitment, management layers and structured systems designed to deceive victims.
—
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
For decades, festivals functioned as a central nervous system for discovery, press, acquisition, and audience.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 8 May 2026
As used by their aggressors, the camera functioned as a weapon.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Church’s landscapes from those traumatic years functioned as commentaries on the conflict’s course.
—Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
In its past life, the building functioned as The Ivey's Department Store (which opened in 1924).
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 4 May 2026
But advocates have spent more than 20 years pushing for upgrades, arguing the bridge has increasingly functioned as a barrier rather than a safe, accessible route.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 1 May 2026
The board functioned as a bridging device – a mechanism by which scientific judgment could inform federal decisions without scientists becoming political officers, and political priorities could shape research agendas without dictating findings.
—Caroline Wagner, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
Nieuwpoort functioned as a front-line European city during WWI, and experienced widespread damage as a result of its location.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Apr. 2026
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
For decades, festivals functioned as a central nervous system for discovery, press, acquisition, and audience.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 8 May 2026
As used by their aggressors, the camera functioned as a weapon.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Church’s landscapes from those traumatic years functioned as commentaries on the conflict’s course.
—Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
In its past life, the building functioned as The Ivey's Department Store (which opened in 1924).
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 4 May 2026
But advocates have spent more than 20 years pushing for upgrades, arguing the bridge has increasingly functioned as a barrier rather than a safe, accessible route.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 1 May 2026
The board functioned as a bridging device – a mechanism by which scientific judgment could inform federal decisions without scientists becoming political officers, and political priorities could shape research agendas without dictating findings.
—Caroline Wagner, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
Nieuwpoort functioned as a front-line European city during WWI, and experienced widespread damage as a result of its location.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functioned
Verb
-
West, a three-time inductee to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, served as a special consultant with the Clippers from 2017 until his death in June 2024.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
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One night early this spring, however, the Otis Bantum Correctional Center, on Rikers Island, served as the setting for something else—dinner with the Mayor.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Verb
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According to Stern, there is also guardianship paperwork, which has been signed by the children’s mother, that delegates parental authority to Omar, who Stern says has acted as a liaison for the children on school and medical matters because their mother does not speak English, per Rochester First.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
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Angus Scott also said ChatGPT acted as a medical doctor in its exchanges with his stepson, even though it was not licensed to offer medical advice.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Snell worked around Kim’s throwing error in the third to pitch a scoreless third and his day was done after 77 pitches.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
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After his playing days were over, Kerr worked as a basketball analyst for TNT, then was an executive with the Suns from 2007-10.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Functioned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functioned. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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