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

Relevance
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 Combs operates on the belief that a defense is only as strong as its foundation. — Karen Koehler, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026 The company operates another rideshare series as well, called Bandwagon, which has launched four missions to date. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 7 July 2026 California typically operates with a spending deficit because Democrats spend more money than the state brings in. — Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 Trent operates fast fashion stores primarily in India under the brands Westside and Zudio. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 7 July 2026 As its namesake implies, The Paperworks operates out of a paper making building made in 1925. — Emma Hall july 6, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026 Sam’s Club currently operates 82 stores in Texas; the new locations will increase its statewide footprint to 86 warehouse clubs. — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 6 July 2026 The 16-year-old Carwow operates across the UK, Germany and Spain, and claims to help more than 10 million customers buy, lease and sell vehicles each year. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 29 June 2026 The Lounge The private terminals JSX operates from—often at smaller airports—aren’t designed for travelers to spend extended periods of time in. — Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operates
  1. uses
  2. manages
  3. works
  4. applies
  5. handles
  6. supervises
  7. performs
  8. utilizes
Verb
  • Summer uses a family trip to a Caribbean resort to cause chaos and sabotage the relationship.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Unlike conventional ion traps that rely on oscillating radio-frequency fields, the Penning trap uses static electric and magnetic fields.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Definition of uses
Verb
  • These advocates are also concerned about oversight, and say the facility represents a departure from how the government manages those children.
    — JACK BROOK, ABC News, 6 July 2026
  • The Makers Market is an organization separate from Santana Row that manages the application and permits of local vendors.
    — Fatima Corona, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
Definition of manages
Verb
  • Anderson has since remarried and currently works as chief of staff for corporate development at payment technology company Celero Commerce.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • The land transfer cleared its last regulatory hurdle June 26 with the approval by the California Transportation Commission, said Neil Thapar, an attorney who works as an advisor and legal consultant to Kai Poma.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Definition of works
Verb
  • West Virginia’s ban also applies at every level of competition, but only from middle school through college.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • The same process applies for minors if all living parents agree to the name change.
    — Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of applies
Verb
  • Every July 4, the communications center in Rancho Cordova handles its highest call volume.
    — Andrew Graham July 3, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026
  • Oman has said that any agreement will comply with international law, although the prospect of a financial system on a waterway that typically handles around 20% of the world's oil has sparked alarm.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 3 July 2026
Definition of handles
Verb
  • Milshtein previously served as adviser to COGAT, which supervises civilian policy in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 19 May 2026
  • As chief of patrol, Hein supervises the most visible aspects of the Police Department that define its image in the minds of most Chicagoans, including emergency response, crisis intervention, traffic control, routine patrol and community policing efforts.
    — Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
Definition of supervises
Verb
  • The county performs about 14,000 inspections annually and about 97% of establishments pass, spokesman Ken Casparis previously told The Sacramento Bee.
    — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado July 3, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026
  • This super-simple dessert performs a delicious magic trick in the oven—the berries sink and the topping rises, yielding a stunning summery treat.
    — Brennan Long, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
Definition of performs
Verb
  • The underlying design utilizes a High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor framework that Valar Atomics refers to as its Numenor architecture.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 July 2026
  • His company has developed a noninvasive technology system, called Edison, which utilizes histotripsy—sound waves that destroy tumors from the inside—to treat cancer and other conditions.
    — Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of utilizes

Browse Nearby Words

operated
operates
operatic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Operates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operates. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on operates

Nglish: Translation of operates for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All