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
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 functioning
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 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
Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026
Red blood cells carry oxygen to our tissues, which is critical for proper functioning.
—Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 16 Apr. 2026
The ability to defend against such cyberattacks is integral to the basic functioning of society.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
While Europe is less directly dependent on Hormuz, its economy relies on the smooth functioning of global shipping routes.
—Gerry Doyle, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2026
Early findings show that teens who use more social media display different patterns in executive functioning—skills like paying attention, controlling impulses, and staying organized.
—Crista Marchesseault, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
What changes are observable in daily functioning?
—Sonia Singh, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
The company said the conversion will allow the site to handle the entire order process, from receiving and storing products to packing and shipping them directly to customers, rather than functioning solely as a shipping center.
—Morgan Rynor, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Sarabia stated that one of her children did not have a functioning seat belt during the ride.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
Regular motion keeps them functioning, while long periods of stillness can have the opposite effect—stiffness.
—Kristen Fischer, Health, 17 Apr. 2026
Well-functioning exterior lighting is also a basic safety measure — uneven walkways and dark steps become fall hazards at night.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
The phones, which weren’t functioning, are the primary way for detainees to communicate with family and their attorneys while in the detention center.
—Mike Schneider, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
That this stalemate has dragged on this long has infuriated Levin, who considers keeping the government functioning a basic tenet of Congress’s job.
—Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
This many of Sudan's health facilities are fully or partially functioning, according to World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
—ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Broken Belongings Non-functioning items, such as broken appliances or electronics, can hinder positive feng shui.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 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
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, 17 Apr. 2026
Red blood cells carry oxygen to our tissues, which is critical for proper functioning.
—Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 16 Apr. 2026
The ability to defend against such cyberattacks is integral to the basic functioning of society.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
While Europe is less directly dependent on Hormuz, its economy relies on the smooth functioning of global shipping routes.
—Gerry Doyle, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2026
Early findings show that teens who use more social media display different patterns in executive functioning—skills like paying attention, controlling impulses, and staying organized.
—Crista Marchesseault, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
What changes are observable in daily functioning?
—Sonia Singh, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
Anyone with 25% of their brain functioning could see this was police brutality and these thugs are a menace perpetrated on society.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
The company said the conversion will allow the site to handle the entire order process, from receiving and storing products to packing and shipping them directly to customers, rather than functioning solely as a shipping center.
—Morgan Rynor, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Sarabia stated that one of her children did not have a functioning seat belt during the ride.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
Regular motion keeps them functioning, while long periods of stillness can have the opposite effect—stiffness.
—Kristen Fischer, Health, 17 Apr. 2026
Well-functioning exterior lighting is also a basic safety measure — uneven walkways and dark steps become fall hazards at night.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
The phones, which weren’t functioning, are the primary way for detainees to communicate with family and their attorneys while in the detention center.
—Mike Schneider, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
That this stalemate has dragged on this long has infuriated Levin, who considers keeping the government functioning a basic tenet of Congress’s job.
—Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
This many of Sudan's health facilities are fully or partially functioning, according to World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
—ABC News, 15 Apr. 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
-
Lucinda Guthrie, head of Mergermarket, said global private equity buyout activity declined 14% year on year in the first quarter, as geopolitical uncertainty, private credit market jitters and scrutiny on AI from investment committees create a more challenging environment for investors.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Before dismissing this activity or just trying to get through it, recognize your tendency to view nearly everything as a situation from which to extricate yourself as quickly and painlessly as possible.—
Charles Yu,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Lakers were connected, apparently having had time to adjust to the loss of their two leading scorers, LeBron James acting as a brilliant playmaker for scorching hot shooters like Kennard, who hit all five of his treys in scoring a career playoff-high 27 points.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Joseph Gerbasi, who spent decades in the division, retired in March of 2025 from his role as acting deputy chief for policy in the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, a group that has now been merged into the division's section on money laundering.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In response, both agencies have introduced major operational changes aimed at improving coordination and public safety.—
Madisen Keavy,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
The task of further enrichment requires operational centrifuges, but the current capacity of Iran’s nuclear program is unclear, some analysts said.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As Mercury joins Mars in Aries in your 9th house, curiosity turns into action and ideas want movement from you.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Raphael has the rare distinction of having an entire aesthetic movement named after a desire to go back to a time before him.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Householder is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2023 of orchestrating the scheme, which FirstEnergy has admitted to underwriting.—
Julie Carr Smyth,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Think about caring for an ill mate, losing income because of having to give up your job, having difficulty paying your bills and suffering from painful arthritis while serving as the unpaid caregiver.—
Helen Dennis,
Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Endless is the operative word at Lavo Italian Restaurant’s weekend brunch, where the traditional sit-down meal gives way to a high‑energy, indulgent experience that feels unmistakably Vegas.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Lara’s pre-operative test results were abnormal, and revealed clear signs of keratoconus, making LASIK unsuitable.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Doncic surged for a 60-point performance against the Miami Heat during the Lakers’ nine-game winning streak that ultimately put them in position for a top-half seed in the West despite Doncic’s and Austin Reaves’ injuries.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Last season, Ramoley sparked Brother Rice’s run to fourth place in Class 4A with a dominant performance in the supersectional against Providence.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Functioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functioning. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
