FUNCTIONS Synonyms: 122 Similar and Opposite Words

functions 1 of 2

noun

Definition of functions next

plural of function

as in events

a social gathering made a brief appearance at the annual holiday function

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Relevance

as in positions

an assignment at which one regularly works for pay what's your function in this company?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in roles

the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists that machine's function is to sort bolts by size

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functions

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of function

as in acts

to have a certain purpose the heart functions as a pump for the blood

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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 functions

Noun

That adds up to approximately $374 million each year that helps cover various city services and functions like street repair, snow removal, weekly trash collection, codes inspection and historic preservation alongside police, fire, emergency and ambulance services. —

Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026 Instead, his curiosity functions as a proper cushion for all. —

Deasia Paige, AJC.com, 8 Apr. 2026 Atlatszo has also reported that Americans distributed across Orban’s network have been paid speaking fees, received compensation for attending conferences, and had their travel and lodging expenses taken care of to attend pro-government functions. —

Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 8 Apr. 2026 During the second semester, students learn about structural systems, the nervous system and things like the senses and reproductive functions. —

Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026 The workers check tickets and fares, answer questions and perform other customer service functions, issue citations for violating train rules, attempt to maintain peace, assist operators and track the number of passengers and sort them into different fare categories. —

Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2026 Instead of viewing constraints as blockers (budget, time, market conditions), treat them as forcing functions that sharpen decision-making. —

Lisa Song Sutton, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026 The event kicked off a series of campaign functions he's planned around the state with less than a month to go until mail-in ballots go out to voters ahead of the June 2 primary. —

ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026 As crypto competitors have become more formidable, JPMorgan has also bolstered its crypto functions. —

Jack Kubinec, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026

Verb

Midi-length dresses naturally hit shorter on petite frames, so what's designed as a midi often functions more like a maxi—ideal if you've been burned by dragging hemlines before. —

Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2026 The Tripoli is an amphibious assault ship that functions essentially as a small aircraft carrier. —

Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026 Additionally, there's a folding table that functions both as a dining space and a work desk. —

Adam Williams march 24, New Atlas, 24 Mar. 2026 Joel Medina, who functions at the level of a six-year-old, vanished near his home Friday and spent multiple nights exposed to the cold, prompting an urgent, multi-agency response. —

Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 24 Mar. 2026 Despite the tent city’s removal, the area still functions as an open-air drug marketplace. —

Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 20 Mar. 2026 But this hate crimes framework also reinforced the power of policing, which functions to perpetuate social hierarchy. —

Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026 Miami functions quite well as a host city, especially given its proximity to the Caribbean. —

Andy McCullough, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026 If installed, the malware usually functions by first displaying a fake Google Play Store window that says the app needs to download an update. —

Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 10 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for functions

Noun

Hart will, however, address the pair of 20-point comebacks the Knicks pulled off en route to the conference finals for the first time in a quarter-century, a sequence of bizarre events many called a fluke.

— Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2026
According to Fox 11, LA28 currently states that 30% of its remaining tickets are under $200, but many potential ticket buyers have reported that larger events—including the opening and closing ceremonies — only have premium seats available, which often cost upwards of $5,000.

— Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026