as in served
to have a certain purpose
the heart functions as a pump for the blood
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of functioned
But, largely, the Phillies did not alter much about how their roster functioned.
—
Matt Gelb, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Unlike New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which functioned as a catch-all that allowed plaintiffs to sue virtually any individual or institution, the California statute was more tailored.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
Nearly 57 percent of people in the low-dose group had meaningful improvements in pain, stiffness, and how well their knees functioned, compared with about 30 percent in the placebo group.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The case draws parallels to other high-profile tech fraud cases, particularly that of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, though Javice’s defense team argued her product actually functioned, unlike Holmes’s blood-testing technology.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Once inseparable, the two artists’ relationship hit a turning point after Gunna was allowed to leave jail only after acknowledging that YSL functioned as a gang.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Where rookie pilots panicked in battle, Gabreski functioned like a robot, dispassionately following the instructions laid out in his military flight manuals.
—Angus Fletcher, Big Think, 29 Sep. 2025
McGowan functioned as a one-man intervention services unit, often fielding middle-of-the-night phone messages and ferrying people to and from rehab.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
The character Justin, whose latent gay identity has functioned mostly as a backdoor punchline up to this point, finally develops feelings for a boy in his high-school theater program (tale as old as time) and the young love culminates in a cry-worthy way.
—James Factora, Them., 26 Sep. 2025
Matt Gelb, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Unlike New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which functioned as a catch-all that allowed plaintiffs to sue virtually any individual or institution, the California statute was more tailored.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
Nearly 57 percent of people in the low-dose group had meaningful improvements in pain, stiffness, and how well their knees functioned, compared with about 30 percent in the placebo group.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The case draws parallels to other high-profile tech fraud cases, particularly that of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, though Javice’s defense team argued her product actually functioned, unlike Holmes’s blood-testing technology.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Once inseparable, the two artists’ relationship hit a turning point after Gunna was allowed to leave jail only after acknowledging that YSL functioned as a gang.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Where rookie pilots panicked in battle, Gabreski functioned like a robot, dispassionately following the instructions laid out in his military flight manuals.
—Angus Fletcher, Big Think, 29 Sep. 2025
McGowan functioned as a one-man intervention services unit, often fielding middle-of-the-night phone messages and ferrying people to and from rehab.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
The character Justin, whose latent gay identity has functioned mostly as a backdoor punchline up to this point, finally develops feelings for a boy in his high-school theater program (tale as old as time) and the young love culminates in a cry-worthy way.
—James Factora, Them., 26 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functioned
Verb
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Now two people who once served at Defending Education have been named to posts in the Education Department, and leaders from Moms for Liberty have joined McMahon for roundtables and other official events.—
Megan O’Matz,
ProPublica,
8 Oct. 2025
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Bruno was with the Wild for two stints as a player and then served in roles on the coaching staff, in player development and in the front office as assistant GM.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The state and its Secretary of State, Nancy Landry, argue that the legislature acted lawfully in response to earlier federal orders requiring better representation for Black voters.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
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Head coach Sean McVay certainly acted like it, thrusting his fists through the air in triumph as Verse skipped down the field, howling at the sparsely populated crowd at M&T Bank Stadium.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Nobody worked harder in practice, and that became contagious to his teammates.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Kindt worked with Gorinson through several companies, including Boom!—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Functioned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functioned. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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