functioning

1. 1
   adjective

   Working as intended and in proper operating condition.

   The pilot confirmed that every functioning instrument showed normal readings.

   A fully functioning immune system protects the body from infection.

   Similarworking, operational, operative

   Oppositebroken, defective, inoperative

2. 2
   verb

   Present participle of function.

   The transplanted kidney began functioning within hours of the surgery.

   Despite the outage, the backup systems kept functioning.

   Note

   The -ing form of an intransitive verb never takes a direct object: kidneys and backup systems simply begin functioning or keep functioning. The same form does double duty as a gerund. Once it is preceded by the and followed by of, as in the functioning of the heart, it has crossed into the noun naming the action.

3. 3
   noununcountable

   The manner in which something operates; its inner workings.

   Engineers studied the functioning of the new gearbox to understand its design.

   The smooth functioning of the team impressed the manager.

   Similarworkings, operation, running, mechanics

4. 4
   noununcountable

   The action or process of operating or carrying out a role.

   Continuous functioning of the life-support system kept the patient alive.

   The functioning of democracy requires active and informed citizens.

   Similaroperation, running, working

5. 5
   adjectiveeuphemistic

   Describing a person who is mentally disabled but able to manage and survive within wider society.

   Despite her diagnosis, she remains a fully functioning member of the workforce.

   The clinic supports patients in becoming functioning, independent adults.

   Note

   This is a euphemism that describes a person by what they can still do rather than by the disability itself. Like the plain "working" sense, it takes degree words, as in pretty functioning or more functioning, and it most often appears in compounds such as high-functioning and low-functioning. Because it softens rather than names, careful writing is usually clearer when it describes what a person can actually do.

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