Meaning & use
operation
An organized activity or series of actions carried out to achieve a particular purpose.
See it in a sentence
The rescue operation involved dozens of volunteers searching the flooded valley for survivors.
The factory's operation runs around the clock, with three shifts of workers each day.
A note on using this word
"Operation" covers everything from military missions and business activities to surgical procedures, so context sets the precise sense.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A medical procedure in which a surgeon treats a disease or injury by cutting into the body.
She recovered quickly after the operation to remove her appendix.
3. noun
A mathematical process, such as addition or multiplication, performed on one or more numbers.
The teacher reviewed the order in which operations like multiplication and addition should be performed.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “operation”, then compare your use with the examples above.