Meaning & use
operate
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Meanings
verbintransitive
To work or run in a particular way, as a machine or system does.
Grammar: No object: the machine operates on batteries.
Patterns
- operate on something
- operate in a place
The lift only operates between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
This heater operates on very little electricity.
The company operates in twelve countries.
verbtransitive
To control and use a machine, vehicle or piece of equipment.
Grammar: Takes an object: operate a crane.
Patterns
- operate something
You need a license to operate a forklift.
She learned to operate the camera in one afternoon.
Only trained staff may operate this equipment.
verbtransitivebusiness
To run or manage a business or service.
Grammar: Takes an object: they operate a bakery.
Patterns
- operate a business
Her family operates a small hotel by the lake.
The firm operates a fleet of delivery vans.
verbintransitivemedical
To cut into a person's body to treat illness or injury.
Grammar: Used with on: the surgeon operated on her knee.
Patterns
- operate on someone
Doctors will operate on him tomorrow morning.
The team operated for six hours to repair the heart.
Word forms
| third person singular | operates |
|---|---|
| past tense | operated |
| past participle | operated |
| -ing form | operating |
Common combinations
- operate a machine
- Workers must be trained to operate the machine safely.
- operate on a patient
- The surgeon will operate on the patient today.
- operate a business
- He has operated a business here for ten years.
- operate smoothly
- The new system operates smoothly.
- operate under a name
- They operate under the name Bright Foods.
Synonyms and how they differ
- run
- Run is more casual and can mean either using a machine or managing a business, while operate is more formal and technical.
- work
- Work describes a thing functioning, not a person controlling it, so it is used with machines as the subject.
- function
- Function is used for how a part or system does its job, and it does not take an object.
- manage
- Manage means to be in charge of people or a business, while operate can also mean handling a machine.
Opposites
Word family
- operation noun
- the act of working, or a surgical procedure
- operator noun
- a person who runs a machine or business
- operational adjective
- working and ready for use
- operative adjective
- in effect; working
- operable adjective
- able to be treated by surgery or used
Commonly confused: operate or cooperate?
operate vs cooperate
Cooperate means to work together with others, while operate means to function or use something.
Practice
The surgeon will ___ on the patient tomorrow.
Choose one answer.
Operate is the verb used with on for surgery. Operation and operator are nouns, and cooperate means to work with someone.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “operate”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.