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
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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
Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2026
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
Ashwin Gaidhani, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Most pills — like Prozac for depression or Lipitor for cholesterol — are tiny chemicals that squeeze into a pocket inside a much larger protein to gum up its functioning.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
For example, a larger trial found that a multidomain program involving cognitive training, exercise, nutrition guidance, and vascular risk monitoring helped improve or maintain cognitive functioning in older adults at risk for dementia.
—Lisa Rapaport, EverydayHealth.com, 29 May 2026
Chronic pain continues to affect millions of Americans and is associated with significant limitations in daily functioning, including impacts on work, mobility, and overall quality of life.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 28 May 2026
But persistent, intense anxiety that disrupts sleep, mood or daily functioning is worth raising with a clinician.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026
The student also showed a lack of motor functioning, uncontrolled emotions and developed a form of insomnia that prevented a regular sleep schedule.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 27 May 2026
Studies have found that regularly eating fish is associated with improved sleep quality, falling asleep more easily, and better daytime functioning.
—Trista Chan, Health, 25 May 2026
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
The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 26 May 2026
But functioning democracies and stable markets still require broad consensus about what constitutes evidence, truth, and reality.
—Richard Torrenzano, Fortune, 26 May 2026
Stable economies and open markets depend on predictability, functioning institutions and cooperation between states.
—María Mendiluce, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Probably because at the time many of the time signatures and chordal progressions that Miles used were over the head of a young guitar player still functioning in the blues and folk idioms.
—Steve Baltin, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026
As with Iran’s frozen assets, sanctions imposed on Iran will only be lifted once the Strait of Hormuz is open and fully functioning again, a US official told CNN.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
Cleaning your remote control and speakers prevents dust build-up and keeps your TV accessories functioning well.
—Nashia Baker, Martha Stewart, 23 May 2026
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
Adjective
The location had critical issues with non-functioning refrigeration units, which led to food being stored at unsafe temperatures, city officials said.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2026
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
Noun
The retrieval and governance layers must be reinforced for a safer functioning of the AI solutions with the right, relevant and responsible data.
—Ashwin Gaidhani, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Most pills — like Prozac for depression or Lipitor for cholesterol — are tiny chemicals that squeeze into a pocket inside a much larger protein to gum up its functioning.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
For example, a larger trial found that a multidomain program involving cognitive training, exercise, nutrition guidance, and vascular risk monitoring helped improve or maintain cognitive functioning in older adults at risk for dementia.
—Lisa Rapaport, EverydayHealth.com, 29 May 2026
Chronic pain continues to affect millions of Americans and is associated with significant limitations in daily functioning, including impacts on work, mobility, and overall quality of life.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 28 May 2026
But persistent, intense anxiety that disrupts sleep, mood or daily functioning is worth raising with a clinician.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026
The student also showed a lack of motor functioning, uncontrolled emotions and developed a form of insomnia that prevented a regular sleep schedule.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 27 May 2026
Studies have found that regularly eating fish is associated with improved sleep quality, falling asleep more easily, and better daytime functioning.
—Trista Chan, Health, 25 May 2026
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
Verb
The stakes couldn’t be higher given that a competitive, functioning insurance market is crucial to homeownership and to bolstering the state’s business climate.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 26 May 2026
But functioning democracies and stable markets still require broad consensus about what constitutes evidence, truth, and reality.
—Richard Torrenzano, Fortune, 26 May 2026
Stable economies and open markets depend on predictability, functioning institutions and cooperation between states.
—María Mendiluce, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Probably because at the time many of the time signatures and chordal progressions that Miles used were over the head of a young guitar player still functioning in the blues and folk idioms.
—Steve Baltin, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026
As with Iran’s frozen assets, sanctions imposed on Iran will only be lifted once the Strait of Hormuz is open and fully functioning again, a US official told CNN.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
Cleaning your remote control and speakers prevents dust build-up and keeps your TV accessories functioning well.
—Nashia Baker, Martha Stewart, 23 May 2026
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
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
-
There’s a dedicated kitchen for cooking classes, a craft and activity room as well as a pirate ship playground outside.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
Because the eggs can survive in the soil as well, wear gloves when gardening and wash hands after outdoor activities.—
Dr. Megan Yanny,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The president acting alone can’t change that.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 May 2026
-
That’s why the original voices of legacy filmmakers are worth protecting, even when some of that group’s AI advocates seem hell-bent on acting against the industry’s long-term best interests.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
But building much larger vessels — the Defiant class is intended to displace roughly 30,000 to 40,000 tons — would only inflate costs and create fatter targets, without offering dramatically new operational capacity.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
The entire Starship program, however, is far behind schedule, with 12 launches of the rocket in the past three years—some successful, some not, none qualifying the giant machine as anywhere close to operational.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
What's the least amount of movement someone can do to offset the harms of our modern sedentary lifestyle?—
NPR,
NPR,
31 May 2026
-
Interiors are arranged as connected spaces, allowing movement to feel easy and uninterrupted, while each element is considered in terms of how it will be used over time.—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
And the facility, beyond serving an 11-state region, will be a central transfer point where vendors can bring their products to one location rather than having to drop them off at multiple warehouses.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
There was a twinge of disruption, because Alexander Zverev (29) and Daniil Medvedev (30) introduced a blend of unreturnable serving and baseline dexterity that briefly forced even the Big Three to patch their software.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
Post-operative care is provided with a special kit containing shampoos, lotions, and medical products, and the clinic maintains high hygiene standards by sanitizing procedure rooms through ultraviolet technology.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
-
And with knee surgeries, rehab is most important in the early stages of post-operative recovery.—
Jeff Fedotin,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Tinsley’s performance also was key to helping the Bruins stay in the game.—
Tim Willert,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
This year’s gathering included a performance from the San Diego Trans Chorus, a nonprofit group that performed at its first-ever pride event Saturday.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Functioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functioning. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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