operated

verb

past tense of operate
1
as in used
to control the mechanical operation of do not operate heavy machinery, including cars, after taking this medication

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2
as in managed
to look after and make decisions about it takes years to learn how to operate that kind of business so that it makes money

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3
as in worked
to produce a desired effect the medicine will take an hour or so to operate the first time you use it

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4
as in utilized
to put into action or service wouldn't dream of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 operated The answers depend on how services are operated and the commitments companies are prepared to make. — Margot Edelman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026 The affected rail line, used by trains operated by Metrolink and Amtrak that connect Orange County to San Diego and offer picturesque ocean views, has long been threatened by coastal erosion. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 The engine features dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder operated via rocker arms. — New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026 Three tours are made of the property every day (operated by the Honolulu Academy of Arts, 866-385-3849). — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026 The bad news is that Casa Barron is gone, but it was replaced by a legit Mexican restaurant operated by one of the the real good guys in the food industry. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 The restaurant operated for two years and closed earlier this summer. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026 The studio is now the Barbara Hepworth Museum, operated by Tate. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 22 Oct. 2026 The service previously operated the EC-130Q for TACAMO duties from 1963 through 1993, according to Lockheed Martin. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operated
  1. used
  2. managed
  3. worked
  4. utilized
  5. handled
  6. controlled
  7. performed
  8. applied
Verb
  • The fraudsters used deepfakes to pose as the company’s chief financial officer on a video call.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Metallurgical coal used for steelmaking was the last critical material to be given the designation in 2025.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of used
Verb
  • At a news conference Monday, the country’s director of public security, Obeidallah Maaytah, said that law enforcement tracked down the individuals involved in that attack and, after a shootout, managed to arrest them and seize their weapons.
    — Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • In contrast, participants who kept training just once or twice a week managed to hold onto a significant portion of their blood pressure reductions.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of managed
Verb
  • For decades, Buck and Aikman’s equally dry sense of humor worked, and there was never the slightest appearance of friction.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Ichiyama has worked closely with Chinese-language auteurs including Hou Hsiao-hsien and Jia Zhangke, and says the mainland industry changed sharply in the mid-2000s.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of worked
Verb
  • Lynn police say the department utilized its Flock cameras to trace the car's license plate, indicating that the car had traveled out of Lynn and in the direction of Saugus.
    — Louisa Moller, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Unlike most eVTOLs, which use propellers, the Roadster utilized compressed air jets to leap over other cars and propel from the top of a ramp six or seven stories high during its product reveal earlier this month.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of utilized
Verb
  • The second-year fifth-round pick started at the MIKE spot and handled green-dot responsibilities on his way to recording six tackles and being active throughout the night.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Resolution is often a complex legal and financial negotiation, best handled by experienced advisors who understand creditor behavior.
    — Nathan Mor, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of handled
Verb
  • Flipping the House, controlled by an even narrower GOP margin, is considered a more realistic outcome.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Now that the family understands that most of the assets will go to a foundation that will largely be controlled by the grandchildren, everyone involved can begin training the young people for their new roles.
    — Christina Wing, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of controlled
Verb
  • Two experienced military observers described a silent craft that performed abrupt maneuvers before disappearing.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Previously, Los Tigres del Norte performed at Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s final rally before Election Day in 2024.
    — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of performed
Verb
  • The gorgeous and tasty caramel and cream cheese frosting looks the best when applied with a small offset spatula to give it that swirly effect on the cake.
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026
  • While traditionally only achievable in real life through plastic surgery or extreme makeup, it can be applied instantly online using beauty filters.
    — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of applied

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operate
operated
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Cite this Entry

“Operated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operated. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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