operating

op·er·at·ing
O1P3E1R1A1T1I1N1G2
US/ˈɑpəɹeɪtɪŋ/UK/ˈɒpəɹeɪtɪŋ/

adjective

In operation; that operates.

“Don't touch the operating machinery.”

Similar
operationoperationalin operationoperative
Opposite
non-operatingnonoperating
Very commonScrabble 12
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Meanings

adjectiveoperating (not comparable)
  1. not comparableIn operation; that operates.

    Don't touch the operating machinery.

    Antonyms: non-operating, nonoperating

  2. not comparableInvolved in an operation.

    The team arbitrarily chose that one operating frame of reference which we all use today.

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of operate
nounoperating (uncountable)
  1. uncountableSynonym of operation (in the uncountable sense).

    Operating on conscious patients involves some additional considerations.

    1 more example

    Sure, academic medicine is fascinating — but operating is the reason I became a surgeon.

    Synonyms: operation

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveIn operation; that operates.

Opposite
non-operatingnonoperating

nounSynonym of operation (in the uncountable sense).

Similar
operation

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivebeing in effect or operation

Similar
operationalin operationoperative
Also see
in operationoperationoperationaloperative

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

pignorate
Cite this entry
APA

operating. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/operating

MLA

“operating.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/operating. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “operating,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/operating.

Source: operating on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.