1
as in events
a social gathering
made a brief appearance at the annual holiday function
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in positions
an assignment at which one regularly works for pay
what's your function in this company?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
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 functions
Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 10 Jan. 2026
When deconstructed, the coat features one wool layer that serves as a jacket on its own, and another reversible layer that functions as a lightweight quilted down jacket.
—Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
Resistance training was the most effective at boosting global cognition—which includes functions like memory and attention—and inhibitory control, which is the ability to regulate your behavior.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 9 Jan. 2026
The colonnades served their own functions, most recently housing the press offices and briefing room on the west side, and the family movie theater and sitting rooms on the east side.
—Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
This is because pads have different functions and come in all different sizes, shapes and colors.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Beehiiv also intends to double the size of its ad solutions team across other functions.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
Few government functions provoke as much reflexive hostility as tax enforcement.
—Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
ServiceNow has been a leader in adopting agentic AI across its company’s functions.
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
Ali Faccenda, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Oganazi Set of 5 Glass Coasters Coasters not only help your furniture stay damage-free, but a nice set also functions as decor on its own.
—Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2025
Inspiration aside, Wun is now running a thriving couture brand, which is still a highly exclusive business that usually functions as an image-making exercise for legacy Parisian maisons.
—Denni Hu, Footwear News, 22 Dec. 2025
Foliage also functions as a material, especially in works that reference the local ecosystem and contemporary struggles to determine its fate.
—Douglas Markowitz, Miami Herald, 19 Dec. 2025
The airport also functions as a hub for United Airlines.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2025
The map also functions as a mirror and as a mirror to document what has been taken and how it will be used to guide itself toward what the possible might be.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025
The 34-year-old democratic socialist is poised to take control of a 306,000-person municipal workforce in the global center of capitalism that also functions as a cultural hub that dictates trends around the world.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
The multipurpose space currently functions as a gym, but could also be used as a spa or additional entertaining area.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
If approved, new local sales taxes in Olathe would pay back the stadium bonds instead of going toward other local government functions.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 10 Jan. 2026
When deconstructed, the coat features one wool layer that serves as a jacket on its own, and another reversible layer that functions as a lightweight quilted down jacket.
—Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
Resistance training was the most effective at boosting global cognition—which includes functions like memory and attention—and inhibitory control, which is the ability to regulate your behavior.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 9 Jan. 2026
The colonnades served their own functions, most recently housing the press offices and briefing room on the west side, and the family movie theater and sitting rooms on the east side.
—Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
This is because pads have different functions and come in all different sizes, shapes and colors.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Beehiiv also intends to double the size of its ad solutions team across other functions.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
Few government functions provoke as much reflexive hostility as tax enforcement.
—Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
ServiceNow has been a leader in adopting agentic AI across its company’s functions.
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
Aside from serving as a convenient storage spot, the ottoman also functions as a footrest, a seat, and a side table.
—Ali Faccenda, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Oganazi Set of 5 Glass Coasters Coasters not only help your furniture stay damage-free, but a nice set also functions as decor on its own.
—Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2025
Inspiration aside, Wun is now running a thriving couture brand, which is still a highly exclusive business that usually functions as an image-making exercise for legacy Parisian maisons.
—Denni Hu, Footwear News, 22 Dec. 2025
Foliage also functions as a material, especially in works that reference the local ecosystem and contemporary struggles to determine its fate.
—Douglas Markowitz, Miami Herald, 19 Dec. 2025
The airport also functions as a hub for United Airlines.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2025
The map also functions as a mirror and as a mirror to document what has been taken and how it will be used to guide itself toward what the possible might be.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025
The 34-year-old democratic socialist is poised to take control of a 306,000-person municipal workforce in the global center of capitalism that also functions as a cultural hub that dictates trends around the world.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
The multipurpose space currently functions as a gym, but could also be used as a spa or additional entertaining area.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functions
Noun
-
Find more university press titles featured on the University Press Week reading list, along with a schedule of University Press Week events.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The president has attended plenty of sporting events over the last 13 months.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The lawsuit alleges that for more than a decade, beginning at least as early as January 2015, Pepsi and Walmart used their dominant positions in the beverage and grocery markets to suppress price competition.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Hi Lab positions HyDee as a response to those challenges by eliminating charging delays associated with battery systems.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
After doing some work onstage, the actor and comedian finally began appearing on-screen in the 1970s, earning small roles in TV shows like Police Woman, The Waltons and The Jeffersons.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
-
There are other examples of lawmakers leaving public office for lobbying roles, but keeping their accounts open and spending from them.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Smith Canal Gate acts as a 50-foot-wide barrier between the San Joaquin River and thousands of homes in central Stockton in flood-prone areas.—
Charlie Lapastora,
CBS News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Each Smart Tag acts as a key for specific reactions and sounds, and these can also unlock mini-games with missions and goals.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Both are confident, charismatic personalities who are comfortable espousing ideas that spark controversy, even within their own parties.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Right Arrow The man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican parties' headquarters five years ago pleaded not guilty in a court appearance on Friday.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That said, many of the gains players made here won’t dramatically affect their bottom lines, and the reality is that most players on ECHL deals will still need those second jobs and other sources of income to continue to chase their dream of making it to the next level.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Both Tong and his counterpart in Rhode Island, Attorney General Peter Neronha, followed up with their own request on Monday which reiterated the developers’ claim that federal intervention risks raising costs for electric customers while upending thousands of local jobs.—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only.—
Ethan M. Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Marvel has publicly acknowledged that the studio's productions often scan actors' bodies, though the scans are generally only used for visual effects purposes rather than storing actors' likenesses for future projects.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
According to her bio on Cooley’s website, Hartnett serves as a trial and appellate advocate and has done work on a variety of issues including LGBTQ+ equality, civil rights and criminal justice.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Skeeter, 36, serves as the Hornets’ player development coach and is also the primary person who works extremely closely with star guard LaMelo Ball.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Functions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functions. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share