functioned

verb

past tense of function
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

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 functioned In the Green New Deal discussion, though, this hypothetical meat ban effectively functioned as metaphorical shortcut for progressive political overreach. — David Rooney, The Conversation, 10 July 2026 The board had stopped watching, but the review mechanism had never functioned in the first place. — Tiffany Archer, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 By installing silicon carbide heating units within the core of the non-nuclear system, technicians simulated peak operating temperatures to verify that all structural components functioned properly under thermal stress. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 July 2026 Indeed, each national emergency has functioned like a ratchet, resetting the baseline size and reach of government ever higher. — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 1 July 2026 During the excavation, archaeologists uncovered stone foundations, teacups, drinking glasses and evidence of the distillery's copper stills and boilers, which helped researchers reconstruct how the massive operation functioned. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026 The double-pivot of Aleksandar Pavlovic and Felix Nmecha in midfield has not functioned especially well, and Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala have not broken free of their indifferent club form last season. — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 26 June 2026 Their discussions with Jenkins were followed by a montage of videos submitted by musicians and friends (including Tyler, the Creator; Ravyn Lenae; and Sampha) that functioned as a virtual toast to Solange. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 24 June 2026 Malena Martínez, has functioned as more than a restaurant. — Paola Miglio, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functioned
  1. served
  2. acted
  3. worked
Verb
  • Echo Park residents are mourning the closure of Burrito King, a 58-year-old late-night institution that served generations as a neighborhood anchor, social hub and unofficial after-hours stand.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • The recent owner also stripped out interior flourishes added in the late 1990s, when the home served as the Pasadena Showcase House.
    — David Hochman, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of served
Verb
  • While the new episodes don’t offer quite the same depth of character or adrenaline rush as the original, the show remains a sharply observed, virtuosically acted, and artfully shot study of human behavior at its ugliest.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
  • Defense attorneys maintained Anthony felt threatened and acted in self-defense after Metcalf initiated physical contact.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Definition of acted
Verb
  • When the Wright brothers first flew, the doubt was never about whether the machine worked, but whether flight would ever be something ordinary people used without a second thought.
    — Charlotte Kiang, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
  • The next inning, Campusano worked a two-out walk and scored from first when Andujar roped a single into the left-field corner.
    — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026
Definition of worked

Browse Nearby Words

functionary
functioned
functioning
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Cite this Entry

“Functioned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functioned. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of functioned for Spanish Speakers

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