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
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
Amazon also has outsourced many marketplace functions to employees in lower-wage countries like India and China.
—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
24 June 2026
Sir Render functions as a prequel to Navy Blue’s previous two LPs, 2024’s Memoirs in Armour, and 2025’s The Sword & the Soaring, forming a trilogy after Def Jam cut him from their roster.
—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
24 June 2026
Biohacking is the broad practice of using science, data and technology to optimize how the body functions.
—
Allison Palmer
updated June 24,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
Like any operating system, the Eclipse S-Core will sit silently in the background, making sure the car functions digitally.
—
New Atlas,
24 June 2026
Silver, on the other hand, functions as both a precious metal and an industrial commodity.
—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
In her role, Ferman will oversee operations including content distribution, technology and business functions, and will handle the integration of new acquisitions.
—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
17 June 2026
The facility functions as a training platform to prepare personnel for the domestic clean energy sector and to test safety protocols.
—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
17 June 2026
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 June 2026
No system in your body functions its best without proper hydration.
—
Sheena Chihak,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 June 2026
More than just a structural framework, bone also functions as a highly active tissue that helps regulate the body’s mineral balance, supports blood cell production and communicates with multiple organ systems.
—
Priya Bhardwaj,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
Part of its appeal among celebrities and us regular folks is how the product actually functions more like skin care than makeup.
—
Irene Richardson,
InStyle,
20 June 2026
Onboard mechanical systems convert the kinetic movement of waves into a steady supply of electricity, establishing a continuous power source that functions independently of weather-dependent terrestrial renewables like solar or wind.
—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
19 June 2026
Ford tucks major ideas and themes into the stunning feature, one that functions both as an intimate exploration of identity and a rallying cry for a new kind of world.
—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
This matters more on scenic itineraries than on port-heavy Mediterranean cruises, where the ship often functions as a floating hotel between destinations.
—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Soft yet supportive, the Vionic Kearny Slip-ons boast a two-inch platform that delivers a subtle lift—ideal for petite travelers like myself—which also functions to alleviate heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis.
—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
9 June 2026
Noun
Plus, most tests sequence which bacteria are present but skip the chemical activity that explains how your gut actually functions, and a stool sample mainly reflects the colon rather than the small intestine where a lot happens.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
Amazon also has outsourced many marketplace functions to employees in lower-wage countries like India and China.
—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
24 June 2026
Sir Render functions as a prequel to Navy Blue’s previous two LPs, 2024’s Memoirs in Armour, and 2025’s The Sword & the Soaring, forming a trilogy after Def Jam cut him from their roster.
—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
24 June 2026
Biohacking is the broad practice of using science, data and technology to optimize how the body functions.
—
Allison Palmer
updated June 24,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
Like any operating system, the Eclipse S-Core will sit silently in the background, making sure the car functions digitally.
—
New Atlas,
24 June 2026
Silver, on the other hand, functions as both a precious metal and an industrial commodity.
—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
In her role, Ferman will oversee operations including content distribution, technology and business functions, and will handle the integration of new acquisitions.
—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
17 June 2026
The facility functions as a training platform to prepare personnel for the domestic clean energy sector and to test safety protocols.
—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
17 June 2026
Verb
That river cruise also functions as the spine of longer 9- to 15-night journeys that fold in Victoria Falls, the Cape Winelands, Cape Town, Kenya’s Maasai Mara, and Namibia’s Skeleton Coast.
—
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 June 2026
No system in your body functions its best without proper hydration.
—
Sheena Chihak,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 June 2026
More than just a structural framework, bone also functions as a highly active tissue that helps regulate the body’s mineral balance, supports blood cell production and communicates with multiple organ systems.
—
Priya Bhardwaj,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
Part of its appeal among celebrities and us regular folks is how the product actually functions more like skin care than makeup.
—
Irene Richardson,
InStyle,
20 June 2026
Onboard mechanical systems convert the kinetic movement of waves into a steady supply of electricity, establishing a continuous power source that functions independently of weather-dependent terrestrial renewables like solar or wind.
—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
19 June 2026
Ford tucks major ideas and themes into the stunning feature, one that functions both as an intimate exploration of identity and a rallying cry for a new kind of world.
—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
This matters more on scenic itineraries than on port-heavy Mediterranean cruises, where the ship often functions as a floating hotel between destinations.
—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Soft yet supportive, the Vionic Kearny Slip-ons boast a two-inch platform that delivers a subtle lift—ideal for petite travelers like myself—which also functions to alleviate heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis.
—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
9 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functions
Noun
-
Health officials said the risk of exposure could increase as summer travel ramps up and Los Angeles welcomes international visitors for FIFA World Cup events being held in the region.
-
Why not invest just as seriously in recreation centers, evening sports leagues, arts programs, neighborhood events and summer employment opportunities designed specifically for teenagers?
Noun
-
Multiple companies have slashed tech worker positions in the Bay Area, cutbacks that portend fresh waves of layoffs for the region’s technology sector, according to official filings with the state’s labor agency.
-
Her previous roles include principal and district leadership positions in Woodland Joint Unified and Sacramento City Unified school districts.
Noun
-
Engineering and technical roles in data centers are particularly in demand due to a labour shortage, with salaries for these roles on the rise.
-
Attorneys posed dueling accounts of Payton and Martin’s roles in the deadly 2022 K Street shootings as closing arguments resumed Wednesday in the pair’s murder trial in Sacramento Superior Court.
Verb
-
The soaring temperatures are caused by a heat dome — a vast area of stagnant high pressure parked over swaths of Europe, which acts like a lid on a pot, stubbornly trapping heat.
-
For a person of 22 years of age, though, Gen acts like she’s seen and done it all.
Noun
-
With the passage of Thursday’s law, both sides have agreed to pull their respective measures from the November ballot, halting campaigns that had both parties amassing tens of millions in funding and blanketing the airwaves with ads.
-
Fu declined to comment by phone, and CBS News Atlanta had not received responses from the remaining parties by the time of publication.
Noun
-
But labor unions and safety experts warn driverless big rigs could threaten jobs and public safety.
-
Most of the jobs, 334, are full-time, which is 109 above the pre-construction projection in that category.
Noun
-
Sheriff's officials said a detailed investigation determined three employees used the system for non-law enforcement purposes, violating both agency policy and Georgia law.
-
While the singer-songwriter has been vocal about her disdain for generative AI models, her latest argument against it comes after learning hundreds of her own songs have been used for training purposes.
Verb
-
Drawing upon the fine dining experience of both Chef Gabon and partner Celine Wuu (who deftly manages the floor), Naides serves an original interpretation of Filipino cuisine in the form of a stylishly modern tasting menu.
-
For all their confidence that progressive Christianity won’t play in red states, however, Warnock serves as a powerful counterpoint.
Cite this Entry
“Functions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functions. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
