as in served
to have a certain purpose
the heart functions as a pump for the blood
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of functioned
Orion’s life support functioned very well, said Howard Hu, NASA’s program manager for the Orion spacecraft.
—
Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
The team functioned amazingly, calmed us, and treated us in the best possible way.
—Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
In the first decade after the revolution, this balance functioned, albeit in a fragile and conflictual manner.
—Roxane Razavi, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
As one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, Noviomagus functioned as a strategic administrative and military hub positioned near the Roman empire’s northernmost border.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2026
The fourth dimension, which originated in the eighteenth century and was mathematically theorized in the nineteenth, both described diagrammable space and functioned as an expression of time.
—Katherine Rochester, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2026
An unceremonious dumping ground for the sort of horror movies most people can live without, Q1 has long functioned as a graveyard for the genre.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 1 Apr. 2026
Yet this overlooks how the politics of addiction actually functioned in the formative decades of the drug war.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Tisch and John Mara have functioned as the Giants franchise’s controlling owners for their respective families since the passing of their fathers, Bob Tisch and Wellington Mara, in 2005.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
The team functioned amazingly, calmed us, and treated us in the best possible way.
—Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
In the first decade after the revolution, this balance functioned, albeit in a fragile and conflictual manner.
—Roxane Razavi, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
As one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, Noviomagus functioned as a strategic administrative and military hub positioned near the Roman empire’s northernmost border.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2026
The fourth dimension, which originated in the eighteenth century and was mathematically theorized in the nineteenth, both described diagrammable space and functioned as an expression of time.
—Katherine Rochester, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2026
An unceremonious dumping ground for the sort of horror movies most people can live without, Q1 has long functioned as a graveyard for the genre.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 1 Apr. 2026
Yet this overlooks how the politics of addiction actually functioned in the formative decades of the drug war.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Tisch and John Mara have functioned as the Giants franchise’s controlling owners for their respective families since the passing of their fathers, Bob Tisch and Wellington Mara, in 2005.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functioned
Verb
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Gauthier served as the backup in his first NHL game.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
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The test also served as a rehearsal of sorts for re-entry day when the astronauts will suit back up for their return to Earth.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Epstein acted as Ariane de Rothschild’s confidant and guide throughout this tumultuous time, the records show.—
Shirsho Dasgupta,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
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On Tuesday, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office issued its report on the shooting, which determined that Allsup had acted lawfully during the incident and opened fire after Mohammed made a sudden movement toward the victim's throat after not complying with Allsup's commands.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Cazares and Grant-Dawson worked together to get the Bay Area-district out of insolvency, after which HYA Corporation took over fiscal responsibility.—
Scott Lebar. Story produced with AI assistance,
Sacbee.com,
5 Apr. 2026
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The beneficiary of Adell’s first catch was starter Jack Kochanowicz, who worked 5⅔ innings, with seven strikeouts.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Functioned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functioned. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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