func·tion
ˈfəŋ(k)-shən 
1
: professional or official position : occupation
His job combines the functions of a manager and a worker.
2
: the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists : purpose
3
: any of a group of related actions contributing to a larger action
especially
: the normal and specific contribution of a bodily part to the economy of a living organism
The function of the heart is to pump blood through the body.
4
: an official or formal ceremony or social gathering
They went to several functions during their college reunion weekend.
5
a
: a mathematical correspondence that assigns exactly one element of one set to each element of the same or another set
b
: a variable (such as a quality, trait, or measurement) that depends on and varies with another
height is a function of age
6
: characteristic behavior of a chemical compound due to a particular reactive unit
also
: functional group
7
: a computer subroutine
specifically
: one that performs a calculation with variables (see variable entry 2 sense 1a) provided by a program and supplies the program with a single result
functioned; functioning
ˈfəŋ(k)-sh(ə-)niŋ
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for function
function, office, duty, province mean the acts or operations expected of a person or thing.
function implies a definite end or purpose or a particular kind of work.
the function of language is two-fold: to communicate emotion and to give information
—
Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley
office is typically applied to the function or service associated with a trade or profession or a special relationship to others.
they exercise the offices of the judge, the priest, the counsellor
—W. E. Gladstone
W. E. Gladstone
duty applies to a task or responsibility imposed by one's occupation, rank, status, or calling.
it is the judicial duty of the court, to examine the whole case
—R. B. Taney
R. B. Taney
province applies to a function, office, or duty that naturally or logically falls to one.
I felt it was not my province to inquire
—Anne Brontë
Anne Brontë
Examples of function in a Sentence
Noun
The function of the heart is to pump blood through the body.
He believes that the true function of art is to tell the truth.
What functions do these programs fulfill?
infants learning to control their bodily functions
The instrument is chiefly used to measure and record heart function.
The design achieves a perfect blend of form and function.
His job combines the functions of a manager and a worker.
Her chief function is to provide expert legal advice.
They went to several functions during their college reunion weekend.
Verb
The new machine functions well.
His bad health has prevented him from being able to function effectively in recent weeks.
Her heart now seems to be functioning normally.
The computer network is not yet fully functioning.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebPeter Jackson, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2023
Bardia—a mechanical engineer who spent his earlier career building armored cars, limousines, and race cars—said the self-cleaning function boosts the tower’s electrical performance by 38 percent.
—IEEE Spectrum, 20 Sep. 2023
The prospect is particularly enticing for marketing and communications, given that a majority of executives who oversee these functions see content production as one of the most valuable applications of generative artificial intelligence.
—Joshua Ben Rosen, WSJ, 20 Sep. 2023
With that in mind, this grade of performance drop might be acceptable, but this isn't the Ally's primary function.
—PCMAG, 18 Sep. 2023
The house also holds Stephen’s writing archives, and a guest house on the property functions as a retreat for working writers.
—Julie Tremaine, Peoplemag, 17 Sep. 2023
Many of the technologies now support basic functions across San Diego.
—Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2023
These aesthetic gestures serve a narrative function: Emelie and Navied’s environmental isolation matches their social anxiety about being an interracial couple in a homogeneously White town.
—Kay Sohini, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
Putting a price on carbon, specifically through the business travel function, is a smart way to navigate this transition and help future-proof businesses.
—Nora Lovell Marchant, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2023
Jessica Carbone, Saveur, 21 Sep. 2023
The legislation would also require Congress to revert to prior spending levels in the case of a shutdown to ensure federal agencies can still function.
—Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2023
What exactly would a work requirement be, and how would that function in practice?
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2023
Mineral wool insulation also functions as a fire barrier — addressing another environmental concern in California.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2023
In the United States, immigrant neighborhoods have typically functioned as liminal spaces, way stations for nascent Americans en route to a less conspicuous life.
—Ligaya Mishan David Chow, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2023
There are distinct echoes in Mathieu of Bill Murray’s movie-star-in-limbo character from Lost in Translation, with the massive spa hotel, its sterile white environments and sleek modern furnishings functioning in similarly alienating ways to the high-end Tokyo hotel in Sofia Coppola’s movie.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Sep. 2023
The space previously functioned as a children’s library at the Met.
—Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2023
Currently, Don Chepo works about four hours a day with his boxers, managing their sparring schedule and functioning more as an advisor.
—Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2023
See More
Noun
Another handy feature is the Minimum Preload function, which was an extra on the V4 S.
—Peter Jackson, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2023
Bardia—a mechanical engineer who spent his earlier career building armored cars, limousines, and race cars—said the self-cleaning function boosts the tower’s electrical performance by 38 percent.
—IEEE Spectrum, 20 Sep. 2023
The prospect is particularly enticing for marketing and communications, given that a majority of executives who oversee these functions see content production as one of the most valuable applications of generative artificial intelligence.
—Joshua Ben Rosen, WSJ, 20 Sep. 2023
With that in mind, this grade of performance drop might be acceptable, but this isn't the Ally's primary function.
—PCMAG, 18 Sep. 2023
The house also holds Stephen’s writing archives, and a guest house on the property functions as a retreat for working writers.
—Julie Tremaine, Peoplemag, 17 Sep. 2023
Many of the technologies now support basic functions across San Diego.
—Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2023
These aesthetic gestures serve a narrative function: Emelie and Navied’s environmental isolation matches their social anxiety about being an interracial couple in a homogeneously White town.
—Kay Sohini, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
Putting a price on carbon, specifically through the business travel function, is a smart way to navigate this transition and help future-proof businesses.
—Nora Lovell Marchant, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2023
Verb
The street once functioned as the demarcating line around the Jewish Ghetto, in which the Jewish community of Rome was forced to live by papal decree from 1555 to 1849.
—Jessica Carbone, Saveur, 21 Sep. 2023
The legislation would also require Congress to revert to prior spending levels in the case of a shutdown to ensure federal agencies can still function.
—Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2023
What exactly would a work requirement be, and how would that function in practice?
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2023
Mineral wool insulation also functions as a fire barrier — addressing another environmental concern in California.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2023
In the United States, immigrant neighborhoods have typically functioned as liminal spaces, way stations for nascent Americans en route to a less conspicuous life.
—Ligaya Mishan David Chow, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2023
There are distinct echoes in Mathieu of Bill Murray’s movie-star-in-limbo character from Lost in Translation, with the massive spa hotel, its sterile white environments and sleek modern furnishings functioning in similarly alienating ways to the high-end Tokyo hotel in Sofia Coppola’s movie.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Sep. 2023
The space previously functioned as a children’s library at the Met.
—Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2023
Currently, Don Chepo works about four hours a day with his boxers, managing their sparring schedule and functioning more as an advisor.
—Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'function.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing function
Dictionary Entries Near function
Cite this Entry
“Function.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/function. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
function
1 of 2 noun
func·tion
ˈfəŋ(k)-shən
1
: professional job or duties : occupation
2
a
: the particular purpose for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists
the function of a knife is cutting
b
: the natural or proper action of a bodily part in a living thing
the function of the heart
3
: a large important ceremony or social affair
4
a
: a mathematical relationship that assigns exactly one element of one set to each element of the same or another set
b
: something (as a quality, trait, or measurement) that is determined by or based on something else
height is a function of age in children
Medical Definition
function
1 of 2 noun
func·tion
ˈfəŋ(k)-shən
: any of a group of related actions contributing to a larger action
especially
: the normal and specific contribution of a bodily part to the economy of a living organism see vital function
function
2 of 2 intransitive verb
functioned; functioning
-sh(ə-)niŋ
: to have a function
shivering functions to maintain the heat of the body
More from Merriam-Webster on function
Nglish: Translation of function for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of function for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about function
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