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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of functioning
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
Immigrants make up nearly one quarter of Illinois’ workforce and are essential to industries that keep communities healthy and functioning.
—Anabel Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
The system interprets this visual input and converts it into a functioning, interactive prototype.
—New Atlas, 17 Dec. 2025
Several had been removed and those that remained were non-functioning, the department said.
—Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Dec. 2025
Vatican News reported that the hospital was operated by the Little Sisters of the Presentation, who provide maternal care and basic surgical services in a region with few functioning medical facilities.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 17 Nov. 2025
Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
Startups have built devices that, when implanted, help people with ALS and paralysis move, speak, and expand their overall functioning.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 26 Feb. 2026
Teach Executive Functioning Skills Executive functioning skills—an umbrella term for the set of brain functions that help behavior regulation and goal completion—are essential in any workplace.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 23 Feb. 2026
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, which your body needs for basic functioning.
—Allison Forsyth, Health, 20 Feb. 2026
But when Luxton and Starr’s team disrupted the functioning of a large protein called ANC-1 that acts as scaffolding inside cells, the GEMs started moving.
—Quanta Magazine, 18 Feb. 2026
Research also shows that acts of kindness and volunteerism — serving others — are associated with lower mortality and better physical functioning into old age.
—Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2026
Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
As of Thursday morning, the call line still put on the voice after a message, in English, acknowledging that the some translation services were not functioning properly.
—Cedar Attanasio, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
Relationships persist where the visible institution does not, as networks functioning outside frameworks that demand visibility.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Official news sites stopped functioning.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
These posed long-term risks to civilians by functioning like landmines.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 27 Feb. 2026
The facility’s prep cooler was in disrepair and not functioning properly.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 27 Feb. 2026
What travelers need to know Despite the increase in travel warnings and precautionary advisories, much of the Middle East continues to operate as normal, with airports open, hotels functioning, and commercial flights running across major hubs including the UAE, Qatar, and Jordan.
—Hana Al-Khodairi, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Feb. 2026
For both of them, their work at building better-functioning teams is more than a simple consulting job.
—K.h. Koehler, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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
Immigrants make up nearly one quarter of Illinois’ workforce and are essential to industries that keep communities healthy and functioning.
—Anabel Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
The system interprets this visual input and converts it into a functioning, interactive prototype.
—New Atlas, 17 Dec. 2025
Several had been removed and those that remained were non-functioning, the department said.
—Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Dec. 2025
Vatican News reported that the hospital was operated by the Little Sisters of the Presentation, who provide maternal care and basic surgical services in a region with few functioning medical facilities.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 17 Nov. 2025
Noun
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.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
Startups have built devices that, when implanted, help people with ALS and paralysis move, speak, and expand their overall functioning.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 26 Feb. 2026
Teach Executive Functioning Skills Executive functioning skills—an umbrella term for the set of brain functions that help behavior regulation and goal completion—are essential in any workplace.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 23 Feb. 2026
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, which your body needs for basic functioning.
—Allison Forsyth, Health, 20 Feb. 2026
But when Luxton and Starr’s team disrupted the functioning of a large protein called ANC-1 that acts as scaffolding inside cells, the GEMs started moving.
—Quanta Magazine, 18 Feb. 2026
Research also shows that acts of kindness and volunteerism — serving others — are associated with lower mortality and better physical functioning into old age.
—Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
Why are there no functioning air raid sirens?
—Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
As of Thursday morning, the call line still put on the voice after a message, in English, acknowledging that the some translation services were not functioning properly.
—Cedar Attanasio, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
Relationships persist where the visible institution does not, as networks functioning outside frameworks that demand visibility.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Official news sites stopped functioning.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
These posed long-term risks to civilians by functioning like landmines.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 27 Feb. 2026
The facility’s prep cooler was in disrepair and not functioning properly.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 27 Feb. 2026
What travelers need to know Despite the increase in travel warnings and precautionary advisories, much of the Middle East continues to operate as normal, with airports open, hotels functioning, and commercial flights running across major hubs including the UAE, Qatar, and Jordan.
—Hana Al-Khodairi, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Feb. 2026
For both of them, their work at building better-functioning teams is more than a simple consulting job.
—K.h. Koehler, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functioning
Adjective
-
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
-
The adjusted net income decreased by 8% y-o-y to $3.9 billion in the first nine months of 2022 due to higher expenses as a % of revenues and lower non-operating income.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes,
11 Jan. 2023
Noun
-
Does that desire to be on the field for offseason activities trump his financial motivations at the end of the day?—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Emergency sirens sounded across Kuwait The crash came as air raid sirens sounded across Kuwait during heightened military activity in the region.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Harbormaster Barb Lusco, who moved to the park department this year as head of maintenance, is now acting park superintendent, replacing Kelly Smith, who resigned.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Alex Doran, the acting special agent in charge of the FBI's San Antonio field office, said a motive for the shooting remains under investigation, but terrorism is a possible motive.—
Tristan Maglunog,
ABC News,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Polymer solar cells offer advantages Researchers have also maintained that polymer solar cells offer advantages such as light weight, flexibility, and solution processability, but their practical application has long been limited by insufficient operational stability and performance.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Feb. 2026
-
According to previous reporting from the Argus Leader, Gemini Data Center acquired 164 acres northeast of town last year for what could be a 500-megawatt, hyper-scale data center projected to be operational in 2028.—
Angela George,
Sioux Falls Argus Leader,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Fiery Mars energizes your 7th House of Alignments, bringing direct movement to your key collaborations and one-on-one agreements.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Israeli and American intelligence agencies — including the CIA — had been tracking Khamenei’s movements for months, waiting for the right moment to strike.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Westport Café, a neighborhood French spot serving until midnight, is a recommendation from the owners.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Mar. 2026
-
South Sudan With Luol Deng serving as president of the country’s basketball federation, South Sudan has been a slow and steady success story in international hoops, culminating with a near-upset of Team USA in a pre-Olympic 2024 exhibition.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The long-standing phrase energy transition remains operative for much of the world—though others reject it.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Intent is the operative word that defines genocide.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Lakers shot 50% from the field and 46% from three-point range in a dominant performance against the NBA’s worst team.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Downstairs, Nighthawk channels retro supper club (skewing towards speakeasy) vibes with late-night plates, cocktails, and live performances, including vinyl DJ sets.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Functioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functioning. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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