functioned

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "functioned" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a person or something performing a task as intended or as expected. For example: "My computer worked quickly and functioned correctly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Moreover, they preferred a well-functioning product over one produced more "responsibly" but which functioned poorly.

The Economist

But it has not functioned well for the currency union: financial markets no longer believe in voluntary rule-following.

The Guardian - Opinion

Any of its last 20 episodes could have reasonably functioned as its finale, and nobody would have been any the wiser.

The Guardian - Opinion

Philip Gourevitch, a staff writer for the New Yorker and PEN host, said he thought the protest ill-founded and part of a debate that had "lost track of the reality of how Charlie Hebdo functioned in French society".

The Guardian - Books

The tall plates might have functioned as prickly predator deterrents in females".

The Guardian

Onofre's cube functioned as a rebuke to a new trend for live artists to put themselves in see-through boxes, as if they were stuffed birds or pickled sharks.

The Guardian - Arts

It was an easy way to demonstrate anger: the statues functioned as a symbol of Soviet oppression, and Vladimir Putin's Russia is perceived as continuing the Soviet policy of domination of its neighbours.

The Guardian

Although he wasn't expecting to make any money, his idea was to learn employable skills by running a website that functioned almost like a business, serving dynamic requests to a variety of users.

The Guardian - Books

In the days of his predecessor, Edward Shevardnadze, this comic-opera statelet in Georgia's south-west corner functioned a bit less badly than the rest of the country: it was a fief of its diminutive leader, Aslan Abashidze, who enjoyed cosy relations with local Russian generals and a share of the spoils from cross-border trade in oil and other commodities.

The Economist

In 1993, a soldier in the army's elite presidential-security division (EMP), which functioned as a death squad, was convicted of killing Ms Mack.

The Economist

Fortunately, the remaining three standby generators functioned properly.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing how a system or organization operated in the past, use "functioned" to convey a sense of established or intended operation. For instance, "The department functioned efficiently under the new management."

Common error

Be careful not to interchange "functioned" with simpler verbs like "worked" if you specifically want to highlight the fulfillment of a purpose or role. "Functioned" implies more than just basic operation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "functioned" is that of a verb in the past tense. It describes the past action of something operating or performing a task. Ludwig AI indicates the word is correct and usable in written English, referring to performing a task as intended or expected.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "functioned" is a verb in the past tense used to describe how something operated or performed its intended purpose. With the help of Ludwig AI, it is confirmed as a correct term that can be used when referring to performing a task as intended or expected. It is very common in news and media, with neutral formality. While "functioned" is a strong choice in many cases, consider related terms like "operated" or "worked" for alternative options depending on the context. When using "functioned", ensure it accurately reflects the fulfillment of a specific role or purpose rather than just basic operation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

operated

Replaces "functioned" with a focus on the action of working or running.

worked

A more general term than "functioned", indicating that something was in a working state.

performed

Highlights the execution of a task or action, similar to "functioned".

ran

Implies a continuous operation or process, similar to one aspect of "functioned".

served

Emphasizes the fulfillment of a purpose or role, a specific type of functioning.

acted

Focuses on behavior or conduct, related to how something functioned in a situation.

fulfilled its role

Expands "functioned" to explicitly state that a role or purpose was completed.

carried out its purpose

Similar to "fulfilled its role", but emphasizes the execution of an intended action.

was in operation

Highlights the state of being active or functional.

was active

A simpler expression focusing on the state of being operational or engaged.

FAQs

How can I use "functioned" in a sentence?

Use "functioned" to describe how something operated or performed its intended purpose in the past. For example, "The old system "functioned" well for many years."

What are some alternatives to using "functioned"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "operated", "worked", or "performed".

What is the difference between "functioned" and "worked"?

"Functioned" often implies that something fulfilled its specific purpose or role, while "worked" is a more general term for being in an operational state. While the machine "worked", it didn't always "functioned" as intended.

Is it correct to say "the device functioned properly"?

Yes, it is correct. "Functioned properly" means that the device operated as it was designed to, without any issues.