operate
Americanverb (used without object)
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operates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
operated,
past participle, past
-
operating
present participle
-
to work, perform, or function, as a machine does.
This engine does not operate properly.
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to work or use a machine, apparatus, or the like.
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to act effectively; produce an effect; exert force or influence (often followed by on orupon ).
Their propaganda is beginning to operate on the minds of the people.
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to perform some process of work or treatment.
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Surgery. to perform a surgical procedure.
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(of a drug) to produce the effect intended.
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Military.
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to carry on operations in war.
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to give orders and accomplish military acts, as distinguished from doing staff work.
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to carry on transactions in securities, or some commodity, especially speculatively or on a large scale.
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Informal. to use devious means for one's own gain; insinuate oneself; finagle.
a man who knows how to operate with the ladies.
verb (used with object)
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operates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
operated,
past participle, past
-
operating
present participle
-
to manage or use (a machine, device, etc.).
Do you know how to operate a forklift?
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to put or keep (a factory, industrial system, ranch, etc.) working or in operation.
to operate a coal mine.
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to bring about, effect, or produce, as by action or the exertion of force or influence.
verb
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to function or cause to function
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(tr) to control the functioning of
operate a machine
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to manage, direct, run, or pursue (a business, system, etc)
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(intr) to perform a surgical operation (upon a person or animal)
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(intr) to produce a desired or intended effect
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to treat or process in a particular or specific way
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(intr) to conduct military or naval operations
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(intr) to deal in securities on a stock exchange
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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reoperateverb (used with object)
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preoperateverb (used without object)
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operatableadjective
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unoperatableadjective
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unoperatedadjective
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well-operatedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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operatesimple
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operatessimple
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have operatedperfect
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has operatedperfect
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am operatingprogressive
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are operatingprogressive
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is operatingprogressive
-
have been operatingperfect progressive
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has been operatingperfect progressive
Past
-
operatedsimple
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had operatedperfect
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was operatingprogressive
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were operatingprogressive
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had been operatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of operate
First recorded in 1600–10; from Late Latin operātus, past participle of operārī, -āre “to work, be efficacious, effect, produce,” Latin: “to busy oneself,” verbal derivative of opera effort, work, akin to opus “work”; see -ate 1
Explanation
You'll want to find a skilled surgeon to operate on your hand. Once your hand is working again, you'll be able to operate your buzz saw with ease. Operate comes from a Latin root related to opus, "work," and it's a verb that can be used for all kinds of work. Your computer can operate smoothly, the lottery can operate successfully, your school can operate a day care center in some vacant classrooms, and you can operate your vehicle in a safe manner. If you're an unshakable optimist, your friends may say you "operate in a dream world."
Vocabulary lists containing operate
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
They found that the hormone accelerated stem cell differentiation, suggesting that at least part of the mechanism observed in mice may also operate in humans.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026
In response resident doctors will hold a 24-hour walk out on Friday 20 November while consultants and specialists will operate a much-reduced service on the following Monday.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
But a jet fighter can cost about $15,000 an hour to operate, without factoring in its missiles, ammunition and maintenance costs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
The Kings note the episode is interested in interrogating the cult of the tech mogul, specifically examining how figures operate outside of traditional ethics.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Over the last two decades, genetic technologies have advanced so rapidly that we can decipher how several of these genes operate in time and space to enable these complex functions.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Sea, one of Southeast Asia’s largest companies by market capitalization, operates e-commerce platform Shopee, gaming division Garena and Monee.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
It operates from a distribution hub in Plymouth, where about 80 volunteers and four paid staff help sort, organise and load tonnes of surplus food each week.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
Foma's work is different - he operates remotely, training his volunteers in Russia, online.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
Il Fornaio is headquartered in Corte Madera and operates 15 locations across California and Nevada.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2026
Figuring out how, exactly, to do that is no easy task, however, when your felony record operates to bar you from any public housing assistance.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
He claimed Nikola operated the largest hydrogen production facility in the Western Hemisphere to fuel the company’s fleet.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2026
The facility, operated from a church in Mpumalanga province, was discovered during an operation by officials in the area on Thursday.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
That wide-body plane, operated by another state-backed airline, Riyadh Air, is insured for more than $130 million.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
The theater will be operated by The Lot, a La Jolla-based luxury dine-in theater chain with four locations in California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
Genes that operated on the same metabolic pathway were physically linked to each other: if you worked together, then you lived together in the genome.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
"After notifying Police Scotland, the communication is being investigated as a hoax, and our schools are operating as normal," the spokesperson said.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
Wall Street is looking for a third=quarter operating profit of $4.1 billion from sales of $48.8 billion.
From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026
The Thai healthcare company’s earnings could then further improve in 4Q, given Cambodian patient recovery and better operating leverage, the analyst adds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026
Despite the fears over new data centers, however, Windsor said in a note to clients that he sees “a silver lining” for companies that are already operating data centers.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 19, 2026
He carried it to the clinic only to see Nurse Cha take Mija’s mother to the operating room.
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
