1
2
as in to manage
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
4
as in to utilize
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 operate
Of 72 schools, 22 operate below 50% capacity, according to a presentation from facilities administrator Chris Ralston.
—
Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Carole Walker, executive director at Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, said the industry has long supported mitigation efforts, but added Colorado has become a much tougher market to operate in, for reasons beyond the industry’s control.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority operates Metro-North and the line running through Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester County and along the Connecticut shoreline.
—Mark Prussin, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
It’s operated by Mark Ethridge, president of Ascent Housing.
—Desiree Mathurin
april 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for operate
Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Carole Walker, executive director at Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, said the industry has long supported mitigation efforts, but added Colorado has become a much tougher market to operate in, for reasons beyond the industry’s control.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority operates Metro-North and the line running through Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester County and along the Connecticut shoreline.
—Mark Prussin, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
It’s operated by Mark Ethridge, president of Ascent Housing.
—Desiree Mathurin
april 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for operate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operate
Verb
-
The Jaguars used their first pick of the NFL draft to land the blocking tight end Friday night, grabbing him in the second round with the 56th selection.—
Mark Long,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The department’s news release about the fire included a reminder for drivers to use caution when pulling over near dry grass or vegetation.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The casting has always managed to feel diverse, but in a guileless, incidental way, giving the appearance of multicultural inclusion without espousing any explicitly progressive viewpoints.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The Bruins managed to keep it tight through the end of the first, with the Sabres taking that 1-0 lead into the first intermission.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents' Association, said in a statement that the renowned performing artist will offer a thrilling glimpse into the minds of newsmakers.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
-
If something feels like a power struggle, don’t perform your way through it.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
He’s viewed as a developmental quarterback prospect, but Green is athletic enough that he could be moved to another position or utilized as a short-yardage runner and specialty player.—
Zac Jackson,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
MnDOT has been utilizing this contracting method since 2016, awarding more than $91 million for 1,270 contracts to 270 small business contractors in that time.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The recruitment has been part of that — Leipzig bought well and sold the players who needed to leave — but Werner has handled a young squad particularly well, minimising the volatility that was such a feature of their football last season.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The lieutenant who handled his Skelly conference wrote that Webster accepted full responsibility for his actions and apologized.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Staff are on hand 24 hours a day to supervise crafts and games, water sports, reef fishing, cookery classes, crab hunts, and marine biologist excursions.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Also, the researchers sometimes caught the Claudes trying to cheat by simply instructing the strong model directly rather than figuring out ways to get the weak teacher to supervise the strong model.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At the time, Esperanza-Pacheco was working as a pastor at God’s Lighthouse of Truth in Richmond, where the victim and her family were members and had developed a friendship with him.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The Huff signing did not work, and now the Eagles have ensured that Greenard will wear green with a major trade.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Conventional solutions often involve applying external pressure in the tens of megapascals or utilizing complex coating processes that increase manufacturing costs and reduce packaging efficiency.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026
-
His church also applied financial pressure before the United Methodist Church conference struck down longstanding anti-LGBTQ policies.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Operate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operate. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
