DictionaryAI

operate

verb
AH-puh-rayt/ˈɑpəɹeɪt/UKO-puh-rayt/ˈɒpəɹeɪt/

Formsoperates, operating, operated

7 meanings of operate

Practice

  1. 1
    run (something)verbtransitive
    To make a machine or business work and keep it running.

    Like driving a bus: you start it, steer it, and keep it going.

    You need special training before you can operate this crane.

    Her family operates a small restaurant near the beach.

    UsagePut the thing right after it: operate a machine. Operate on someone means doing surgery.

    Similarrun, work, use, manage, handle

    Note
  2. 2
    verbintransitive
    Of a company or group: to do its work or business in a certain place or way.

    Food trucks operate on this street every Friday night.

    The small charity operates with only three paid workers.

    UsageOften with a place: operate in a country, out of a building.

  3. 3
    verbintransitive
    To work, function or act, often using physical or mechanical power.

    These water pumps operate day and night without a break.

    The heater operates only when the room gets cold.

    Similarwork, function

    Note
  4. 4
    surgeryverbintransitive
    To do surgery on a person's body to treat an illness or injury.

    The doctors will operate on his knee next week.

    A heart doctor operated on the blocked blood vessel early this morning.

    UsageSay operate on someone: doctors operate on his knee. He was operated on last week.

  5. 5
    verbintransitive
    To have an effect on something or someone, as a law or a medicine does.

    Many different causes can operate at the same time to change the weather.

    The new rule operates in favor of younger players.

    UsageOften operate to + verb: the law operates to stop quick sales.

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 6
    bring aboutverbdatedtransitive
    To cause something to happen or bring about a change.
    It is supposed that western Europe was overpopulated and that the crusades operated a beneficial reduction of numbers.
    1906, William Graham Sumner, Folkways: A Study of the Sociological Importance of Usages
    Strictures upon style, which are for the most part good, but time has operated a change in many respects even since he wrote.
    1830, Charles Francis Adams Sr., Massachusetts Historical Society: Adams Papers Digital Edition

    Similareffect, produce, cause, work

    Note
  2. 7
    trade stocksverbintransitive
    To buy and sell stocks or goods, taking risks in the hope of making money.

    He began to operate in gold after the price started to climb.

    His uncle liked to operate in the stock market, hoping to get rich fast.

    Similartrade, speculate, deal

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of operate apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin operātus, a form of the verb operor ("to work or labor").

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts