operated

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "operated" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when referring to a machine, an organization, or any other entity that has been running or in existence for a period of time. For example: "The company has been successfully operated by the same family for three generations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Travel

Money

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He said at some point during the peace process "an administrative process that operated independently of government" came into operation.

The Guardian

JBS-Friboi, which operated nine slaughterhouses in 2009, has ramped up operations to 32 in 2013, four years after the agreement.

The Guardian

Speaking to the committee, Mitchell said he was looking at how other European development finance institutions operated and was seeking to make CDC "the best DFI in the world".

The Guardian

Nhulunbuy, in remote north-east Arnhem Land, is a town owned and operated by Rio Tinto since 2007, when the mining company bought the Gove bauxite mine and refinery, established in 1963.

The Guardian

The Dalny Vostok was built in what is now Ukraine in 1989 and was initially operated by the Soviet fishing ministry.

The Guardian

Luxembourg under Juncker, he said, operated thus: "They were looking for a new business model, so they stole the tax base of their neighbours".

The Guardian

Several reports have noted that Ng's hotel in Macau, the Fortuna, effectively operated as a brothel.

The Guardian

Covering more than 92,000 sq metres (1m sq ft), it is packed with supercomputers operated by codebreakers and data miners who work behind concrete and limestone walls that are up to 2.5 metres (8ft) thick.

The Guardian

Though traffic data makes it possible to see the movement of traffic in real time, and traffic lights themselves are operated algorithmically, it is still not possible to engineer a way of turning the lights green as you pull up.

The Guardian - Tech

For example, WuDunn suggests people can do as little as buy soap from Nashville's Thistle Farms, which is operated by a community of women who survived prostitution, trafficking and addiction and are featured in A Path Appears.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The road to the campsite cuts through Troytown farm, which the Hicks family has operated for more than 30 years.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing how an organization functions, use "operated" to convey a sense of ongoing activity and management over a period.

Common error

Avoid using "operated" excessively in the passive voice; instead, opt for active constructions to make your writing more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "The system was operated by the team", try "The team operated the system".

Linguistic Context

The word "operated" primarily functions as the past tense and past participle of the verb 'operate'. Ludwig's examples show its usage in describing how systems, organizations, or individuals perform actions or are managed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

20%

Travel

10%

Less common in

Money

5%

Sport

5%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "operated" functions primarily as the past tense of 'operate', denoting the act of running, managing, or controlling something in the past. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, with a neutral formality suitable for news, business, and general writing. The most common usage involves describing how systems or organizations have functioned, making it a versatile term for diverse applications. Remember to avoid overuse in the passive voice and consider using more active constructions for clearer and more engaging writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

functioned

Replaces "operated" with a focus on the manner of working or performing.

ran

Offers a simpler, more direct alternative to "operated", emphasizing the act of managing or controlling.

managed

Substitutes "operated" highlighting the aspect of control and administration.

controlled

Emphasizes the authority and regulation aspects in place of "operated".

utilized

Focuses on the action of making practical and effective use of something, differing from the general sense of "operated".

executed

Implies a more formal and structured performance compared to "operated".

performed

Replaces "operated" to emphasize the action of carrying out or accomplishing something.

maintained

Focuses on keeping something in good working order, a specific aspect of "operated".

administered

Highlights the procedural or bureaucratic aspects, in contrast to the broader sense of "operated".

conducted

Implies guiding or directing a process or activity, a more specific meaning than "operated".

FAQs

How to use "operated" in a sentence?

The term "operated" can be used to describe how a system, business, or machine functions. For example, "The factory "operated" efficiently under new management" or "The device is "operated" by remote control".

What can I say instead of "operated"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "managed", "ran", "functioned", or "controlled".

Which is correct, "operated by" or "operated from"?

"Operated by" is used to indicate who or what is performing the action, while "operated from" indicates a location. For example, "The store is "operated by" a local family" versus "The business is "operated from" home".

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

"Operated" generally refers to the overall running or management of something, while "functioned" focuses on how well something performs its specific tasks. "The machine "operated" smoothly", indicates the overall running, versus "The machine "functioned" perfectly", which implies it performed all tasks as intended.