operating
Americanadjective
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used or engaged in performing operations.
an operating surgeon.
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of, for, or pertaining to operations.
an operating budget.
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of or relating to the proper operation of a machine, appliance, etc..
a manual of operating instructions.
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Railroads. of, pertaining, or belonging to railroad workers, as engineers or firemen, who are directly engaged in the mechanical operation of trains.
an operating union.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of operating
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.
The company plans to grow operating profit to more than $6.5 billion by 2030.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
Steel said it couldn’t afford to keep operating its oldest mill near Pittsburgh.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
The guidance implies Honeywell Aerospace sales of about $19.3 billion and operating profit of about $4.9 billion.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
He also incorporated an estimated target operating profit margin for each of those segments.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
In the laboratory, which adjoined the parlor, Dad, his movie cameraman, a nurse, and Dr. Burton were converting a desk into an operating table, and setting up the cross-section background and lights.
From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
