What does "function" mean?
What something does or is used for.
Function
/ˈfʌŋkʃən/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: What something does or is used for.
- Grammar: function is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: map, mapping, purpose, role.
- Useful contrasts: abstract relation, broken, complete immobility.
- Usage evidence: Some English adverbs function as adjectives.
How to use "function"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "function" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "function" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "function" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "function" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "function" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "map" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "function", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 What something does or is used for.
"Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction."
- 2 the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group wordnet
- 3 A professional or official position.
- 4 what something is used for wordnet
- 5 An official or social occasion.
"Our hotel is hosting a function for all the warehouse workers on the night of April 18."
Show 13 more definitions
- 6 a set sequence of steps, part of larger computer program wordnet
- 7 An official or social occasion.; A party. slang
- 8 a formal or official social gathering or ceremony of people wordnet
- 9 Something which is dependent on or stems from another thing; a result or concomitant.
"Though most of the cases here cover European encounters with non-Europeans, it is not the intention of the book to give the impression that genocide is a function of European colonialism and imperialism alone."
- 10 a formal or official social gathering or ceremony wordnet
- 11 A relation where one thing is dependent on another for its existence, value, or significance.
- 12 a relation such that one thing is dependent on another wordnet
- 13 A relation in which each element of the domain is associated with exactly one element of the codomain.
- 14 (mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function) wordnet
- 15 A routine that receives zero or more arguments and may return a result.
- 16 The physiological activity of an organ or body part.
- 17 The characteristic behavior of a chemical compound.
- 18 The role of a social practice in the continued existence of the group.
Verb
- 1 To have a function. intransitive
- 2 perform duties attached to a particular office or place or function wordnet
- 3 To carry out a function; to be in action. intransitive
"Although the laying workers functioned in a queenlike manner, they were unable to suppress ovarian development as effectively as the queen."
- 4 perform as expected when applied wordnet
- 5 serve a purpose, role, or function wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"Some English adverbs function as adjectives."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "function"?
Common synonyms include: map, mapping, purpose, role, use, ability to work.
How do you use "function" in a sentence?
Some English adverbs function as adjectives.
How do you pronounce "function"?
Pronounced /ˈfʌŋkʃən/.
Etymology
From Middle French function, from Old French fonction, from Latin functiō (“performance, execution”), from functus, perfect participle of fungor (“to perform, execute, discharge”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewg- (“to enjoy”).