operated

verb

past tense of operate
1
as in used
to control the mechanical operation of do not operate heavy machinery, including cars, after taking this medication

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in managed
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
as in worked
to produce a desired effect the medicine will take an hour or so to operate the first time you use it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in utilized
to put into action or service wouldn't dream of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol

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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 operated In response to the renaming of the theater, a number of independent theaters across France symbolically operated under the banner of René Vautier on Friday, in a show of solidarity for the cinema and its staff. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026 The company has operated a Green Apron Creator Program, paying baristas to create social media content during dedicated shifts. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026 For reasons the report doesn’t explain, the paramedics squad operated independently and was not assigned to the fire incident. — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 Dennis Thomas has worked on Placerville’s Main Street for 43 years and has owned and operated Robinson Pharmacy for 25 years, according to his candidate statement. — Haley Parsley october 2, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Five people were killed when the Boeing 767, operated by all-cargo carrier 21Air, overran the runway at Miami International Airport on September 6, striking multiple vehicles, catching fire and sending a thick black plume of smoke into the air. — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 After the crash, Amazon suspended its partnership with 21 Air, which operated the plane. — ABC News, 1 Oct. 2026 Starting last October, hackers gained access to a system operated by the Defense Manpower Data Center, which collates Department of Defense personnel records. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 1 Oct. 2026 At CoreCivic From Lawrence, agents took Sanchez-Corona to the Department of Homeland Security offices near the Kansas City International Airport, then to the Leavenworth Midwest Regional Reception Center, operated by CoreCivic. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operated
  1. used
  2. managed
  3. worked
  4. utilized
  5. handled
  6. controlled
  7. performed
  8. applied
Verb
  • Toyota said the facility will allow engineers to identify and address battery issues closer to where vehicles are being manufactured and used.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
  • At the time, the state used a three-drug execution protocol of midazolam, vecuronium bromide and potassium chloride.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of used
Verb
  • Kellermeyer is one of a number of companies referenced in lawsuits filed in recent months that accuse funds managed by some of Wall Street’s biggest names of inflating their marks, often to increase their own payouts.
    — Ellen DiMauro, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The hospitality brand holds a 30-year concession to run the lodge, which is part of the Tompkins Conservation project and managed by the National Forestry Agency.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of managed
Verb
  • According to court filings, Seaver previously worked for private military contractors and later provided security for Parton and her properties through his company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services (SAPS), which is also a party to the lawsuit.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Room for Disagreement Collins has opposed Trump on upwards of a half-dozen major initiatives and worked behind the scenes to temper him on multiple other occasions.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of worked
Verb
  • The landscape designers have ingeniously utilized desalinated water from the nearby sea, ensuring a sustainable water source.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • While the charging station is designed for desktop charging for remote or in-office use, the Anker Prime can also be utilized as a central charging station for the family in the living room.
    — Carlos Mejia, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of utilized
Verb
  • The paperwork is handled well, the farewell party is arranged, gifts are presented and everyone assumes that whatever needed to be passed to the next person has already been passed.
    — Vikas Arora, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The student who spoke with campus police criticized how the department handled the matter.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of handled
Verb
  • The gatekeepers who controlled which stories were told to the wider public are falling away.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • That space is controlled by big companies with far more resources and larger customer bases.
    — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of controlled
Verb
  • The third, Surrender, is a massage performed in water, in which the buoyancy and warmth allow the body to completely relax and let go.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Risks vary with gestational age, a patient's medical history, the procedure performed and the circumstances of the pregnancy.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of performed
Verb
  • Linebacker Rashan Gary had a sack, and finally applied noticeable pressure on a quarterback for the first time with the team.
    — Mac Engel October 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2026
  • But under New York criminal law — which will be applied here — this is not the definition that will be used.
    — Ilana Turko, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of applied

Browse Nearby Words

operate
operated
operates
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Cite this Entry

“Operated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operated. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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