operates

verb

present tense third-person singular of operate
1
as in uses
to control the mechanical operation of do not operate heavy machinery, including cars, after taking this medication

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in works
to produce a desired effect the medicine will take an hour or so to operate the first time you use it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 operates Reportedly, this system operates through a two-way connection, linking real-time image recognition directly with surgical manipulation. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026 SpaceX already operates its Starbase spaceport in rural Texas, as well as launchpads at government spaceports on the coasts of California and Florida. — Elizabeth Howell, Scientific American, 7 Sep. 2026 And that difficulty with accountability operates at every level of the data center tech stack. — Petala Ironcloud, ArsTechnica, 7 Sep. 2026 Far Out also operates Press Cafe, Towne Grill and Maria’s Mexican Kitchen along with Felipe’s Bar & Grill in Odessa, the Grill in San Angelo and Bosque Cantina in Walnut Springs. — Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Sep. 2026 Now, Moffitt owns and operates two brick-and-mortar Moon Shots Super Food Cafes, his Guilford location opening in 2023, and a second location in Branford that opened six months ago. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026 Amazon Air operates a fleet of more than 100 cargo aircraft, including the Boeing 737 and 767 and the Airbus A330. — Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026 Israel’s military operates in all parts of the West Bank, but rights groups have said the military frequently turns a blind eye to settler violence. — Ibrahim Hazboun, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026 Now, the Ranch operates year-round, and there are over 1,200 students. — Sarah Douglas, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operates
  1. uses
  2. manages
  3. works
  4. applies
  5. handles
  6. supervises
  7. performs
  8. utilizes
Verb
  • Thankfully, the bathroom lines at Venice intermissions are not too long, as 70 percent of the audience uses the opportunity to duck out and have a smoke.
    — Nate Jones, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026
  • It’s powered by a lithium-ion battery and uses two drive motors and a pair of bulldozer-style treads to navigate the floor, walls, and waterline of your pool.
    — John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of uses
Verb
  • Moore breathes life into Mona, but manages to intertwine a sense of entitlement that nods to her former life as traditional housewife.
    — Cortlyn Kelly, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Benkert manages dozens of properties in Kauai and has boarded up two houses on the western side of the island.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of manages
Verb
  • Mansur lives in poverty with his sister, mother, and aunt, Schaesta Ama, and works as a day laborer.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Heads in the Sky works with studios to mount elaborate drone shows, like the Masters of the Universe display that placed Skeletor hundreds of feet above Los Angeles, breaking a world record for brightness in the process.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of works
Verb
  • This also applies to a free-agent acquisition like free-agent winger Vladimir Tarasenko, who (incredibly) remains a free agent at this time.
    — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Judge Louis will consider whether the treaty applies to the case and determine if the evidence establishes probable cause.
    — Bill Chappell, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of applies
Verb
  • Either use a fragile design that loads atoms well but breaks under high heat conditions or a sturdy design that handles heat well but not the atoms.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Global Constellation handles international sales, with the film set to be submitted for festival consideration in 2027.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of handles
Verb
  • In her current role, Second Assistant District Attorney, Sprague supervises all homicides that occur in Plymouth County as well as all firearm and narcotics cases, according to her profile.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The quotation should identify who designs the hairline, administers local anesthesia, performs recipient incisions and supervises graft placement.
    — Malana VanTyler, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of supervises
Verb
  • The idea is less about decorative spectacle than about how a home performs after someone moves in.
    — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Run small validation campaigns across separate audiences before increasing budget, compare results with your own sales data and investigate any source that performs unusually well without a clear reason.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of performs
Verb
  • Tresnjak’s production, which utilizes the 1956 adaptation by Maurice Valency, centers on the small town of Güllen, which is facing financial ruin.
    — Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Metz’s essay observes how The Bear utilizes the similar techniques as previous Golden Age of Television series (like The Sopranos and Game of Thrones) to exaggerate small-scale conflict to melodramatic proportions.
    — Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of utilizes

Browse Nearby Words

operated
operates
operatic
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Cite this Entry

“Operates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operates. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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