operate
B2Formal, neutral, and technical
Definition
Meaning
To function or work; to control the functioning of a machine, system, or organization.
To perform a surgical procedure; to be in effect or active; to conduct business or military activities.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily transitive and intransitive verb; often used with 'on' in medical contexts; has different senses from physical machinery to abstract systems.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling differences in derivatives (e.g., BrE 'operationalise' vs AmE 'operationalize'). Usage of 'operate' in the sense of running a business is more common in AmE.
Connotations
In medical contexts, identical. In business, AmE may use 'operate' more broadly for any business activity.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in AmE corpus, especially in business/financial contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SBJ operate OBJSBJ operate on OBJSBJ operate as OBJSBJ operate in/within/under OBJVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “operate on a shoestring”
- “operate behind the scenes”
- “operate under the radar”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The company operates in over thirty countries.
Academic
The theory operates on several key assumptions.
Everyday
Do you know how to operate the coffee machine?
Technical
The drone operates autonomously using GPS waypoints.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The lift isn't operating due to maintenance.
- Surgeons will operate on his knee tomorrow.
- The firm operates from its London headquarters.
American English
- The elevator isn't operating due to maintenance.
- Doctors will operate on her shoulder next week.
- The company operates out of its Chicago office.
adverb
British English
- The system is operating efficiently now.
- The charity operates independently of government.
American English
- The system is operating efficiently now.
- The agency operates independently of the state.
adjective
British English
- The operating theatre is sterile.
- We need to review the operating procedures.
American English
- The operating room is sterile.
- We need to review the operating procedures.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Can you show me how to operate the TV remote?
- This machine operates with a simple button.
- The new law will operate from next January.
- The surgeon decided to operate immediately.
- The organization operates under strict ethical guidelines.
- The software can operate on multiple platforms.
- Several complex factors operate to influence the market's volatility.
- The regime operated a vast network of surveillance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a surgeon who must OPERATE to make a patient's body function properly. Both involve making something work.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORGANIZATIONS ARE MACHINES (e.g., 'The department operates like a well-oiled machine').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'оперировать' only in medical sense. Use 'работать', 'управлять', or 'функционировать' for machines/systems.
- Do not confuse with 'operational' which translates as 'рабочий' or 'действующий', not 'операционный'.
- The noun 'operation' has broader meanings than 'операция'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He operates a doctor.' Correct: 'He operates as a doctor.' or 'He is a doctor.'
- Incorrect preposition: 'operate to a system'. Correct: 'operate on a system' or 'operate within a system'.
- Overusing in informal contexts where 'work' or 'run' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'operate' used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's used for machines, businesses, systems, laws, and in medical contexts for surgical procedures.
'Operate' is more formal and technical. 'Run' is more common in everyday speech for businesses and machines.
'On' (medical/surgical), 'as' (function in a role), 'in/within/under' (conditions/framework), 'from/out of' (location).
Yes, e.g., 'The system operates smoothly' (no direct object).