Synonyms for operate
ˈɒp əˌreɪtop·er·ate

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. operate

   Synonyms:
   act, work, produce, effect, produce an effect, have effect

   Antonyms:
   cease, rest, fail, misoperate

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. operate, runverb

   direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.

   "She is running a relief operation in the Sudan"

   Synonyms:
   course, hunt, fly the coop, work, scat, run away, move, turn tail, operate on, range, lean, run, guide, function, lead, lam, maneuver, flow, melt down, track down, break away, head for the hills, extend, hunt down, endure, bunk, take to the woods, execute, consort, manoeuvre, feed, control, carry, scarper, go, unravel, manoeuver, play, die hard, race, pass, run for, black market, mesh, lock, persist, incline, draw, hightail it, bleed, be given, prevail, campaign, tend, escape, ladder, ply, engage, melt

2. function, work, operate, go, runverb

   perform as expected when applied

   "The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in"; "Does this old car still run well?"; "This old radio doesn't work anymore"

   Synonyms:
   lick, function, perish, break away, give way, hold out, hunt, run, endure, lead, give out, unravel, carry, fit, travel, take to the woods, last, die, track down, mold, go away, act, snuff it, go, bunk, run away, solve, act upon, turn tail, head for the hills, run low, do work, plump, fly the coop, prevail, process, execute, mould, wreak, incline, drop dead, put to work, course, tend, work, scarper, blend in, run short, croak, get going, control, ferment, range, serve, work out, pass away, consort, live, cash in one's chips, kick the bucket, blend, flow, hunt down, knead, scat, bring, break, figure out, escape, form, rifle, locomote, lock, exploit, run for, lean, belong, make, give-up the ghost, go bad, survive, cultivate, manoeuvre, melt down, get, be given, turn, expire, ladder, draw, become, bleed, manoeuver, persist, live on, campaign, forge, move, influence, engage, pop off, sound, fail, conk out, extend, start, depart, operate on, decease, puzzle out, play, hold up, proceed, break down, lam, melt, crop, exit, conk, work on, exercise, buy the farm, ply, hightail it, sour, feed, choke, race, guide, die hard, pass, shape, make for, mesh, officiate, black market, maneuver

3. operate, controlverb

   handle and cause to function

   "do not operate machinery after imbibing alcohol"; "control the lever"

   Synonyms:
   go, manoeuvre, see, hold in, ascertain, moderate, maneuver, control, mesh, hold, function, manipulate, work, manoeuver, engage, keep in line, run, assure, master, check, lock, operate on, see to it, command, insure, ensure, curb, verify, contain

4. manoeuver, maneuver, manoeuvre, operateverb

   perform a movement in military or naval tactics in order to secure an advantage in attack or defense

   Synonyms:
   go, manoeuver, maneuver, control, mesh, head, function, guide, engage, direct, channelize, run, lock, operate on, channelise, work, steer, point, manoeuvre

5. operateverb

   happen

   "What is going on in the minds of the people?"

   Synonyms:
   lock, maneuver, manoeuver, mesh, manoeuvre, engage, go, function, work, control, run, operate on

6. engage, mesh, lock, operateverb

   keep engaged

   "engaged the gears"

   Synonyms:
   engross, affiance, enlist, plight, operate on, run, function, lock, hire, interlace, maneuver, take, employ, lock up, shut up, ensnarl, enmesh, pursue, control, manoeuver, go, prosecute, manoeuvre, lease, shut away, charter, betroth, mesh, wage, rent, work, lock in, lock away, absorb, occupy, interlock, put away, engage

7. operate on, operateverb

   perform surgery on

   "The doctors operated on the patient but failed to save his life"

   Synonyms:
   lock, operate on, run, manoeuvre, engage, manoeuver, go, function, work, control, mesh, maneuver

Matched Categories

1. • Direct
   • Manipulate

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. operateverb

   Synonyms:
   [Followed by on or upon.] act, work, have effect, have influence

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "operate":

   exploit, function, operation, work, exploitation, exploiting, functioning, operating, operand, run, act, use, manage, operations

How to pronounce operate?

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How to use operate in a sentence?

1. Brad Nelson:

   More recently people in the field have been looking at other applications like water treatment or environmental cleanup, where you might be able to operate hundreds, thousands, millions of these devices and have them swim through polluted water, catalyze pollutants, and then collect them back.

2. Lindsey Graham:

   I would hate to lose the ability of the FISA court to operate at a time probably when we need it the most. But after Christopher Wray report, I have serious concerns about whether the FISA court can continue unless there is fundamental reform.

3. Kevin Montgomery:

   They’re horrible, they shouldn’t even be allowed to open their doors and operate, they’re so bad. It’s unacceptable.

4. Dan Thelander:

   We'll have to lay off employees. We won't be buying as many seeds or fertilizer or tractors, and so we'll just have to scale down and operate a smaller farm, and so, yes, it'll hurt a lot.

5. Carolyn McCall:

   We will not resume flying until we are told unequivocally by the government that it is safe to operate at Sharm el-Sheikh airport.