Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

operating

/ˈɑpəɹeɪtɪŋ/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.75 in modern English

Syllables: op-er-at-ing
IPA: /ˈɑpəɹeɪtɪŋ/

12

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

4

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

In operation; that operates.

adj

Involved in an operation.

verb

present participle and gerund of operate

noun

Synonym of operation (in the uncountable sense).

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Don't touch the operating machinery."
"The team arbitrarily chose that one operating frame of reference which we all use today."
"Sure, academic medicine is fascinating — but operating is the reason I became a surgeon."
"Operating on conscious patients involves some additional considerations."

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈɑpəɹeɪtɪŋ/
British English: /ˈɒpəɹeɪtɪŋ/

Usage

Uncountable

Derived Forms

nonoperating preoperating unoperating

Phrases

chief operating officer non-operating operating concept operating cost operating depth operating expenditure operating expense operating income

Frequently Paired Words

chief operating officer freight operating company net operating income net operating loss operating cycle operating room table OR train operating company

Synonyms

operation operational in operation

Antonyms

non-operating nonoperating

Rhymes With

cooperating

Questions

How do you pronounce operating?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɑpəɹeɪtɪŋ/.
What does operating mean?: In operation; that operates.

How to pronounce operating

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “operating”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɑpəɹeɪtɪŋ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “operating”.
Repeat and practice — Say “operating” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.