as in operating
being in effective operation
looked for a functioning washing machine, but the few that weren't broken were in use
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in activity
Related Words
as in acting
to have a certain purpose
the heart functions as a pump for the blood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of functioning
Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2026
Investigators say the error was compounded by non-functioning signal systems along with failures in staffing, oversight and maintenance during years of delays in safety upgrades.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Velasquez said Chait placed a strong emphasis on communication, recalling that district leaders recently sent administrators guidance on reassuring families that schools would remain safe and functioning.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
At the same time, Maguire ventured into opposition territory to serve as an emergency centre-forward — rarely a sign of a functioning game plan.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
New Yorkers deserve and require a fully functioning and cohesive government.
—Kirsten John Foy, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Police say the driver stopped at the non-functioning signal but did not see the teen in the crosswalk before proceeding.
—Tori Mason, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
The winning team later enjoyed a luxury yacht complete with a private chef, while the losing team slept on the smallest vessel—without a functioning toilet.
—Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
The cozy accommodations are stocked with a selection of Southern books and some retain original features like non-functioning fireplaces.
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
Keeping a household functioning is actually a high-stakes tactical mission requiring constant maintenance and an iron will.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 May 2026
All of these elements help to preserve the youthful functioning of the skin, which helps tattoos look sharper and more colorful for longer.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 6 May 2026
Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 1 May 2026
Drug use to aid daily functioning is not a new phenomenon.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Her testimony focused in part on social communication, emotional processing, and executive functioning — evidence the defense is presenting as jurors weigh whether Horner should be sentenced to death or life without parole.
—Lauren Crawford, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Together, broadcasting and telecommunications account for more than $60 billion in the Canadian economy and provide essential infrastructure for the exchange of cultural and informational resources necessary for the functioning of a Canadian democratic society.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
Even small decreases in cognitive functioning may be associated with a higher risk of death.
—Doug Brugge, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
The scientists hope to recover lithium directly from underground brines, while at the same time allow geothermal operations to continue functioning normally.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 19 May 2026
Rather than functioning as stand-alone gadgets, the glasses are designed to extend the apps and services consumers already use through Gemini and Android XR.
—Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
The remaining inventories are needed to maintain minimum operating levels in pipelines and storage facilities to keep supply chains functioning.
—CNBC, 18 May 2026
The captain inspects the engines, confirms navigation systems are functioning, reviews the weather and ensures the crew is ready.
—David Pennino, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Economically, these shops were just as vital, sometimes even functioning like early banks or credit unions.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Bargatze wants to be the Walt Disney of Tennessee, while also functioning as the park’s primary mascot.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
Human rights organizations have for years accused El Helicoide of functioning as one of Venezuela’s principal centers of political repression.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 11 May 2026
Adjective
Collins says cleaning a functioning or newer dryer once every two years is sufficient to clear our major blocks and prevent more serious complications, such as clogs that can lead to fires.
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2026
Investigators say the error was compounded by non-functioning signal systems along with failures in staffing, oversight and maintenance during years of delays in safety upgrades.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Velasquez said Chait placed a strong emphasis on communication, recalling that district leaders recently sent administrators guidance on reassuring families that schools would remain safe and functioning.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
At the same time, Maguire ventured into opposition territory to serve as an emergency centre-forward — rarely a sign of a functioning game plan.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
New Yorkers deserve and require a fully functioning and cohesive government.
—Kirsten John Foy, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Police say the driver stopped at the non-functioning signal but did not see the teen in the crosswalk before proceeding.
—Tori Mason, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
The winning team later enjoyed a luxury yacht complete with a private chef, while the losing team slept on the smallest vessel—without a functioning toilet.
—Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
The cozy accommodations are stocked with a selection of Southern books and some retain original features like non-functioning fireplaces.
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
The grid of international borders must therefore be ever more militarized, or else the system of states—which is now explicitly a class system, whose functioning depends on mass immobilization—cannot work.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
Keeping a household functioning is actually a high-stakes tactical mission requiring constant maintenance and an iron will.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 May 2026
All of these elements help to preserve the youthful functioning of the skin, which helps tattoos look sharper and more colorful for longer.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 6 May 2026
Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 1 May 2026
Drug use to aid daily functioning is not a new phenomenon.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Her testimony focused in part on social communication, emotional processing, and executive functioning — evidence the defense is presenting as jurors weigh whether Horner should be sentenced to death or life without parole.
—Lauren Crawford, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Together, broadcasting and telecommunications account for more than $60 billion in the Canadian economy and provide essential infrastructure for the exchange of cultural and informational resources necessary for the functioning of a Canadian democratic society.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
Even small decreases in cognitive functioning may be associated with a higher risk of death.
—Doug Brugge, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
Instead, hormone signals and the glands that produce them are part of a communication system that organises every cell, turning collections of independently functioning cells, tissues and organs into an interconnected human body.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
The scientists hope to recover lithium directly from underground brines, while at the same time allow geothermal operations to continue functioning normally.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 19 May 2026
Rather than functioning as stand-alone gadgets, the glasses are designed to extend the apps and services consumers already use through Gemini and Android XR.
—Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
The remaining inventories are needed to maintain minimum operating levels in pipelines and storage facilities to keep supply chains functioning.
—CNBC, 18 May 2026
The captain inspects the engines, confirms navigation systems are functioning, reviews the weather and ensures the crew is ready.
—David Pennino, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Economically, these shops were just as vital, sometimes even functioning like early banks or credit unions.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Bargatze wants to be the Walt Disney of Tennessee, while also functioning as the park’s primary mascot.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
Human rights organizations have for years accused El Helicoide of functioning as one of Venezuela’s principal centers of political repression.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 11 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functioning
Adjective
-
Exxon operates some of the wells directly and holds a financial, non-operating interest in the others.—
Rachel Nostrant,
Houston Chronicle,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Last year, though revenue and operating profit increased, non-operating red ink pushed the company into a full-year loss of NT$766 million, or $25 million.—
Russell Flannery,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
As a result, the central government took drastic steps in 2020 to rein in a freewheeling property sector that once accounted for 30% of the country’s economic activity.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
-
Children are welcome at the aforementioned main pool, and the hotel’s version of a kids club, called Seedlings, offers cooking classes, ukulele lessons, and outdoor activities that focus on exploring the natural world.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Rousey left the sport after consecutive losses, while Carano moved on to an acting career after taking her first loss.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
-
These themes emerged out of conversations Dusabejambo had with these actual women, traumatized and/or guilty, before casting them in the film despite no acting experience.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Israel was reportedly the first nation to use the F-35 in actual combat operations, demonstrating the aircraft’s operational readiness and effectiveness in modern warfare environments.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
-
That would be followed by an orbital free-flyer called Vortex-S, and the Vortex-C operational cargo transport vehicle with a total mass of about 8 to 9 metric tons.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The tiered design is complemented by a functional front button placket for easy customization, and the billowy sleeves add movement.—
Destinee Scott,
Travel + Leisure,
18 May 2026
-
Opt for the signature Polynesian massage, which mimics soothing wave-like movements from head to toe.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Jeffries, who was serving as a House impeachment manager, posited an answer.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Ted told her about his time serving as a Special Forces Green Beret.—
Erin Moriarty,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Party is unapologetically the operative word for the ACMs, even down to the extent that many of the awards are being announced prior to airtime, to have few speeches on the show when that time could be used for music.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
17 May 2026
-
But the company is also opening a new fulfilment center in Giessen, in western Germany, which should be fully operative by the end of 2027.—
Cathrin Schaer,
Footwear News,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
After a 27-point performance in the first game, Brittney Sykes had 14 points by halftime in the rematch and finished with a career-high 38.—
Steve Galluzzo,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
-
Wild-eyed in a register that ranges from dreamy to terrified to stunned into submission, her performance is the most honestly felt thing here.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Functioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functioning. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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