Operate

Quick meaning: Operate is a verb meaning (transitive or intransitive) To perform a work or labour; to exert power or strength, physical or mechanical; to act.

Meaning

(transitive or intransitive) To perform a work or labour; to exert power or strength, physical or mechanical; to act.

More Meanings

1. (intransitive) To produce an effect.
2. (transitive) To bring about as an effect; to cause.
3. (transitive or intransitive) To deal in stocks or any commodity with a view to speculative profits.
4. (transitive) To put into, or to continue in, operation or activity; to work.
5. (medicine, transitive or intransitive) To perform some manual act upon a human body in a methodical manner, and usually with instruments, with a view to restore soundness or health, as in amputation, lithotomy, etc.

Example Sentences

I'm being operated tomorrow.

The surgeon had to operate on her heart.

Could someone explain how this meeting operates?

The police had inside knowledge of how the gang operated.

Word Forms

• operates
• operating
• operated

Synonyms for operate

Depending on context, synonyms include control, work, engage, function, run, maneuver.

Antonyms for operate

Common opposites include withdraw, malfunction, disengage, misfunction.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include function, control, work, engage, maneuver, run.

Commonly Confused & Compared Words

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