as in operating
being in effective operation
looked for a functioning washing machine, but the few that weren't broken were in use
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in activity
Related Words
as in acting
to have a certain purpose
the heart functions as a pump for the blood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of functioning
Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2026
Investigators say the error was compounded by non-functioning signal systems along with failures in staffing, oversight and maintenance during years of delays in safety upgrades.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Velasquez said Chait placed a strong emphasis on communication, recalling that district leaders recently sent administrators guidance on reassuring families that schools would remain safe and functioning.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
At the same time, Maguire ventured into opposition territory to serve as an emergency centre-forward — rarely a sign of a functioning game plan.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
New Yorkers deserve and require a fully functioning and cohesive government.
—Kirsten John Foy, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Police say the driver stopped at the non-functioning signal but did not see the teen in the crosswalk before proceeding.
—Tori Mason, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
The winning team later enjoyed a luxury yacht complete with a private chef, while the losing team slept on the smallest vessel—without a functioning toilet.
—Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
The cozy accommodations are stocked with a selection of Southern books and some retain original features like non-functioning fireplaces.
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
Walden Green, Pitchfork, 1 May 2026
Drug use to aid daily functioning is not a new phenomenon.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Her testimony focused in part on social communication, emotional processing, and executive functioning — evidence the defense is presenting as jurors weigh whether Horner should be sentenced to death or life without parole.
—Lauren Crawford, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Together, broadcasting and telecommunications account for more than $60 billion in the Canadian economy and provide essential infrastructure for the exchange of cultural and informational resources necessary for the functioning of a Canadian democratic society.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
Even small decreases in cognitive functioning may be associated with a higher risk of death.
—Doug Brugge, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
Red blood cells carry oxygen to our tissues, which is critical for proper functioning.
—Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 16 Apr. 2026
The ability to defend against such cyberattacks is integral to the basic functioning of society.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Apple's System Status webpage did not acknowledge issues with its Weather app on Tuesday morning, marking it as functioning normally.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Instead of functioning as standalone tools, robots become part of a coordinated security network.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
With the announcement of Mythos, Anthropic has been effectively functioning as a geopolitical actor, briefing ally governments on the model’s capabilities.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Sudan’s army has since retaken the capital, and Al Nao remains one of the area's only functioning health centers.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
Its allies Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza are degraded but functioning, with Israel still regularly launching strikes at both.
—Sam Metz, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
In my experience, if there are no vacuum leaks and the idle speed control motor is functioning properly, many drivability issues on these cars come down to poor electrical grounds.
—Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Anyone with 25% of their brain functioning could see this was police brutality and these thugs are a menace perpetrated on society.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Collins says cleaning a functioning or newer dryer once every two years is sufficient to clear our major blocks and prevent more serious complications, such as clogs that can lead to fires.
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2026
Investigators say the error was compounded by non-functioning signal systems along with failures in staffing, oversight and maintenance during years of delays in safety upgrades.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Velasquez said Chait placed a strong emphasis on communication, recalling that district leaders recently sent administrators guidance on reassuring families that schools would remain safe and functioning.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
At the same time, Maguire ventured into opposition territory to serve as an emergency centre-forward — rarely a sign of a functioning game plan.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
New Yorkers deserve and require a fully functioning and cohesive government.
—Kirsten John Foy, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Police say the driver stopped at the non-functioning signal but did not see the teen in the crosswalk before proceeding.
—Tori Mason, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
The winning team later enjoyed a luxury yacht complete with a private chef, while the losing team slept on the smallest vessel—without a functioning toilet.
—Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
The cozy accommodations are stocked with a selection of Southern books and some retain original features like non-functioning fireplaces.
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 1 May 2026
Drug use to aid daily functioning is not a new phenomenon.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Her testimony focused in part on social communication, emotional processing, and executive functioning — evidence the defense is presenting as jurors weigh whether Horner should be sentenced to death or life without parole.
—Lauren Crawford, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Together, broadcasting and telecommunications account for more than $60 billion in the Canadian economy and provide essential infrastructure for the exchange of cultural and informational resources necessary for the functioning of a Canadian democratic society.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
Even small decreases in cognitive functioning may be associated with a higher risk of death.
—Doug Brugge, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
Red blood cells carry oxygen to our tissues, which is critical for proper functioning.
—Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 16 Apr. 2026
The ability to defend against such cyberattacks is integral to the basic functioning of society.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
That policy divergence has intensified scrutiny over whether Charles’ visit is now functioning as a diplomatic pressure valve.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Apple's System Status webpage did not acknowledge issues with its Weather app on Tuesday morning, marking it as functioning normally.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Instead of functioning as standalone tools, robots become part of a coordinated security network.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
With the announcement of Mythos, Anthropic has been effectively functioning as a geopolitical actor, briefing ally governments on the model’s capabilities.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Sudan’s army has since retaken the capital, and Al Nao remains one of the area's only functioning health centers.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
Its allies Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza are degraded but functioning, with Israel still regularly launching strikes at both.
—Sam Metz, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
In my experience, if there are no vacuum leaks and the idle speed control motor is functioning properly, many drivability issues on these cars come down to poor electrical grounds.
—Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Anyone with 25% of their brain functioning could see this was police brutality and these thugs are a menace perpetrated on society.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functioning
Adjective
-
Exxon operates some of the wells directly and holds a financial, non-operating interest in the others.—
Rachel Nostrant,
Houston Chronicle,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Last year, though revenue and operating profit increased, non-operating red ink pushed the company into a full-year loss of NT$766 million, or $25 million.—
Russell Flannery,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The Moon in Sagittarius moves through your 12th House of Reflection, pulling you inward and away from constant activity.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
Her activities of choice are perusing Pinterest and surfing YouTube Shorts—essentially a high-latency TikTok.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The show is postapocalyptic and emotionally manipulative—think The Last of Us meets This Is Us—but the supple acting and careful character development pay off in the latest season.—
Dan Zak,
The Atlantic,
3 May 2026
-
Republicans only need to keep a 50-seat caucus, with Vice President JD Vance acting as the tie-breaking vote, to retain control of the Senate.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
On September 15th, 1916, land warfare was forever revolutionized with the first operational appearance of the tank.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
-
The Iran conflict has sent jet fuel costs soaring, devastating budget airlines such as Spirit that operate on razor-thin margins and cannot absorb higher operational expenses.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Like the republican project itself, the artistic movements of both Europe and America were a mashup of mutual influences.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The Florida Legislature has recently made construction worker relocation easier, but deals with other states to allow the free movement of professionals could expand these benefits further.—
Maxwell Harden,
Sun Sentinel,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Giuliani was elected New York’s mayor in 1993 after serving as one of the nation’s highest-profile prosecutors, taking on mobsters and crooked Wall Street traders.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
Church threw himself into public life, serving as a parks commissioner in New York and helping to found the Metropolitan Museum of Art.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
From 2021 to 2023, about two-thirds of adults over 65 had hypertension, according to the operative definition at the time.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Endless is the operative word at Lavo Italian Restaurant’s weekend brunch, where the traditional sit-down meal gives way to a high‑energy, indulgent experience that feels unmistakably Vegas.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Having been surpassed, as an athlete, by Alex Honnold, the new free soloist in the valley, Potter, then in his early forties, reimagined himself as a performance artist, of a kind.—
Nick Paumgarten,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Since her time on the fashion movie set, Blunt — who was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in the first film — furthered her acting career in films like Edge of Tomorrow, The Girl on the Train, A Quiet Place, Mary Poppins Returns and Oppenheimer, which earned her an Oscar nomination.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Functioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functioning. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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