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

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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 The Royal Gorge Route operates year-round with up to four departures daily up and down the gorge. — Jocelyn Rowley, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026 Ozon is an e-commerce and technology company that operates as an online marketplace selling millions of products. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026 Santos Bravos operates under a division called Hybe Latin America, which is based out of Mexico City, where the band calls home. — Christine Terrisse, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026 Naval aviation already operates the AIM-120, while the service has also introduced the longer-range AIM-174. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2026 Today, the company operates in more than 5,000 communities across 49 states. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026 Central Health also operates the nonprofit Sendero Health Plans, which offers marketplace insurance to Travis County residents. — Olivia Aldridge, NPR, 23 Aug. 2026 Since then, her former mate, Shadow, has been seen repeatedly with a bald eagle designated KD-1, the Friends of Big Bear Valley, which operates the livecams, said. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are seeking extensive financial damages plus changes to how the company operates Facebook and Instagram. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operates
  1. uses
  2. manages
  3. works
  4. applies
  5. handles
  6. supervises
  7. performs
  8. utilizes
Verb
  • The Flock fallout is expanding with Hopkinton, Massachusetts, joining the growing number of Commonwealth communities turning off the technology that uses cameras to scan license plates and record details like a car's make, model and color.
    — Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Buffalo Grove, which also uses joint purchasing through Lake County, plans to purchase salt from other sources to cover its need.
    — Steve Zalusky, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of uses
Verb
  • The mall’s owners had sold the property to the Centurion Foundation, which manages real estate and development for universities and hospitals.
    — Savannah Sicurella, AJC.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • An improbable preparation that somehow manages to be immediately familiar and comforting, this cheeseburger fried rice is a little peek into all the fun going down at Agnes and Sherman in Houston, one of our Best New Restaurants of 2026.
    — Nick Wong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of manages
Verb
  • Except that’s how the entertainment business works these days, and those deals did pay them millions (the Netflix production deal was reported to be in the $100-million range).
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Communications, however, is one of the few functions that regularly works across every part of the business.
    — Caroline Johns, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of works
Verb
  • The pause that applies to data centers in downtown that are less than 350,000 square feet.
    — Ubah Ali, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The reasoning that applies in one place means nothing in the other.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of applies
Verb
  • In healthcare, for example, an admissions department that once required 10 people may need two as AI handles referral summaries, reimbursement assessments and coordination workflows.
    — Dave Wessinger, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • O’Brien’s report was not entirely negative, and the auditor’s office found that how Denver handles project management is generally effective, though there’s room for improvement.
    — Katie Langford, Denver Post, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of handles
Verb
  • The executive also coordinates and supervises county departments and is responsible for submitting an annual balanced budget to the Legislature.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Bardin also supervises the company’s equity fund, launched in 2025 to finance documentary films and series with commercial potential.
    — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of supervises
Verb
  • Winding machines can process up to 240 cells per minute, while a rotary indexing system performs tab flattening and full-tab forming in a single step.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Its facilities can recreate real-world sound environments and changing acoustic conditions to assess how technology performs as the world around the consumer changes.
    — Bill Schiffmiller, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of performs
Verb
  • The design utilizes otherwise dead space under the access stairs and jumping platforms and transforms them into equipment rooms to hide away pumps and other accessories while keeping them easily accessible for maintenance.
    — Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Saturday, utilizes 56,000 square feet of indoor space to host more than 200 vendors, sword-fighting, costume contests, live musicians, mermaids, fairies and photo ops.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 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 26 Aug. 2026.

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