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
After examining the car, a forensic auto examiner also found that the brake and accelerator had all functioned properly—despite belief that a pedal may have been jammed or stuck.
—
Jake King-Schreifels, Time, 15 May 2026
Gevorkian has functioned as the Nets’ cap specialist for several years and has been involved in all trades.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
But citizenship has never functioned in such a simple way.
—Daisy Hernández, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
But the first baseman’s 12 years in Atlanta effectively functioned as an extension of Cox’s impact on the Braves’ organization.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 10 May 2026
How Sacramento media veterans remember Dick Cable The memorial functioned as a reunion of sorts for veterans of local broadcast news, attracting people like KFBK afternoon host Kitty O’Neal and former KCRA and News10 anchor Walt Gray.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026
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
Jake King-Schreifels, Time, 15 May 2026
Gevorkian has functioned as the Nets’ cap specialist for several years and has been involved in all trades.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
But citizenship has never functioned in such a simple way.
—Daisy Hernández, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
But the first baseman’s 12 years in Atlanta effectively functioned as an extension of Cox’s impact on the Braves’ organization.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 10 May 2026
How Sacramento media veterans remember Dick Cable The memorial functioned as a reunion of sorts for veterans of local broadcast news, attracting people like KFBK afternoon host Kitty O’Neal and former KCRA and News10 anchor Walt Gray.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functioned
Verb
-
One man’s modernity is, of course, another’s degradation, and, as dinner was served, the conversation turned to such recent innovations as ghost runners, pitch clocks, and robot umps, none of them to Murray’s liking.—
Ben McGrath,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The evening menu includes a raw section of caviar, crabs, yellow tail, oysters, and of particular note are the juicy steaks served with the marrow.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The criminal trial comes months after a separate jury in a civil trial found that Parker acted with gross negligence in the shooting and awarded the injured teacher, Abby Zwerner, $10 million in damages.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
-
The defense attorney said Laird had acted suspiciously by deleting messages between him and Maya on multiple platforms.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The White Sox slugger worked a 1-1 count by taking a pair of pitches away.—
Andy Martinez,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
-
Instead of being found by quick switches of play, Grimaldo and Frimpong would often become involved in moves higher up the pitch after the ball had worked its way through Alonso’s midfield box (consisting of the two deeper midfielders and two No 10s).—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Functioned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functioned. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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