I had an operation for glaucoma last year.
Source: tatoeba (19407)
Operation
/ˌɒp.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/
Synonyms for "operation" (273 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (55)
Noun(16 words)
processsurgeryactionsadjective of processagencyalgorithm stepalgorithm stepsalgorithmic steparithmeticbehaviourbusiness functionscalculationcampaignscognitive operationcognitive processconvolution
Determiner(1 words)
a procedure
accomplished factaccomplishmentachievementactactaactingactionactivismactivityadventureaffairagencyamphibious operationsamputationanastomotic operationapplianceapplicationattemptbehaviorbloodless operation
Adjective(5 words)
actual performancebiological mechanismchemical processescomputational stepcomputational unit
Strong matches (82)
corneal transplantcoupcrescent operationdealdealingsdeeddirectiondoingdoingsdrivingdry rundutyeffectiveeffectuationefficaciouseffortelective operationemergency operationemploymentend use
Show 38 more words
endeavorengagemententerpriseexcisionexecutionexerciseexercisingexertionexploitexploitationexploratory operationfait accomplifeatfenestration operationfluid operationsfunctionfunctionalfunctioninggestgohandhandiworkhandlingheart transplantimmediate purposein effectin forceinterval operationjobjoint operationkidney transplantleadershiplogisticsmajor operationmanagementmanagingmaneuvermaneuvers
Noun(19 words)
data taskdevice controldevice functiondevice operationdrivingengine operationequipment operationflopfuel cell operationfunctionfunction smoothlyfunctional processfunctioninggeological process mechanismlever actuationlever interactionmachine actionmachine actionsmachine operation
Verb(2 words)
devise a proceduredo
Adjective(3 words)
dutch transformatieitalian trasformazionelatin processus
Related words (136)
Noun(47 words)
manipulatingmanipulationsmath operationmath transformationmathematical operationmathematical processmechanical actionmental processmilitary operationmissionsmore campaign-relatedmost behavioralperformancephysical transformationpilotingplyingprocedureproceduresprocessesraid
Show 27 more words
rescueromanian transformaromanian transformarerun mechanicallyrun reveals faultspanish transformaciónstrategic movesurgeriessurgical operationsurgical proceduresurgical processswitchingswoopingsystem actiontransformtransformationtransformation processtransformationstransformingtransformsuse remoteverbo di cambiamentowelding stepwieldingwork activitywork taskworkflow step
manipulationmanoeuvremeasuremilitary operationsminor operationminor operationsmissionmotionmovemovementmovementsnegotiationobligationoccupationofficeoperatingoperationaloperational purposeoperationsoperative
Show 65 more words
organ transplantorgan transplantationoverproductionoverseas operationsovert actpackage dealpalliative operationpassageperformanceperformingplanplastic surgeryplaypracticepraxisprocedureproceedingproductionproductivenessprogramprojectpropositionprostheticspurposeradical operationrealizationremovalres gestaeresectionresponsibilityrolerunningsectionstaff worksteeringstepstrokestuntsurgical interventionsurgical operationsurgical techniqueswingtaskthe knifethingthing donetouchtour de forcetransactiontransplantturnultimate purposeundertakingupkeepusageuseusingutilizationventurewar gamewar plansworkworkingworkingsworks
Adjective(3 words)
mechanical operationmedical procedureorganizational function
Verb(1 words)
press a lever
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: process, surgery, a procedure, accomplished fact, accomplishment.
- Sentence evidence is available for operation, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "operation".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "operation"
Keep "operation" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "operation" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "operation", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "operation" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
17 entriesactionactivenessactivitybusiness activitycalculationcognitioncommercial activitycomputationcomputingdata processingknowledgemechanismmedical procedurenoesisphysical processprocess
Showing 16 of 17 words.
More specific
8 entriesCollocations
5 entriescomputer operationmath operationmedical operationmilitary operationoperation plan
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
2 entriesTranslations
33 translations across 29 languages.
Arabic
1 entries- عَمَلِيَّة noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Azerbaijani
1 entries- əməl noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Bashkir
1 entries- ғәмәл noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Bulgarian
2 entries- де́йствие noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
- опера́ция noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Catalan
1 entries- operació noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Czech
1 entries- postup noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Esperanto
1 entries- operacio noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Finnish
2 entries- laskutoimitus noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
- operaatio noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
French
1 entries- opération noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
German
2 entries- Operation noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
- Verknüpfung noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Greek
1 entries- πράξη noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Hungarian
1 entries- művelet noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Icelandic
1 entries- aðgerð noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Ido
1 entries- operaco noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Irish
1 entries- oibríocht noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Italian
1 entries- operazione noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Japanese
1 entries- 演算 noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Latvian
1 entries- operācija noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Low German
1 entries- Operatschoon noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Māori
1 entries- paheko noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Norman
1 entries- opéthâtion noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Persian
1 entries- عمل noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Polish
1 entries- operacja noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Portuguese
1 entries- operação noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Russian
2 entries- де́йствие noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
- опера́ция noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Spanish
1 entries- operación noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Swahili
1 entries- operesheni noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Tajik
1 entries- амал noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Turkish
1 entries- işlem noun (procedure for generating a value from one or more other values)
Sample sentences
21 total sentences available.
The surgeon persuaded me to undergo an organ transplant operation.
Source: tatoeba (21982)
The surgeon persuaded me to undergo an operation.
Source: tatoeba (21985)
Doctors refused to perform a second operation.
Source: tatoeba (28090)
Showing 4 of 21 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "operation"?
Closest matches include process, surgery, a procedure, accomplished fact, accomplishment.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "operation"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.