Function — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈfəŋ(k)-shən/ func·tion

Meaning & Definition of Function

Function (noun)

  1. professional or official position, occupation
  2. the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists, purpose
  3. any of a group of related actions contributing to a larger action; especially, the specific contribution of a bodily part to the processes necessary for life in an organism

Function (verb)

  1. to have a function, serve
  2. to carry on a function or be in action, operate

Function (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a social gathering

    "made a brief appearance at the annual holiday function"

    similar: affair, bash, binge, blast, blowout, do, event, fete, get-together, party, reception, shindig
    related: benefit, fund-raiser, ball, dance, formal, prom, celebration, gala, occasion, bacchanal, bacchanalia, orgy, saturnalia, bake, clambake, cocktail party, hen party, house party, housewarming, icebreaker, kaffeeklatsch, kegger, klatch, masquerade, meet and greet, mixer, salon, shower, social, soiree, stag, supper, symposium, tea, tea party

  2. an assignment at which one regularly works for pay

    "what's your function in this company?"

    similar: appointment, berth, billet, capacity, connection, job, place, position, post, situation
    related: business, employ, employment, occupation, profession, work, office, spot, calling, pursuit, trade, vocation, line, racket, engagement, gig, livelihood, living, career, lifework, practice, duty, mission, posting, service, task
    near: avocation, joblessness, unemployment

  3. the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists

    "that machine's function is to sort bolts by size"

    similar: business, capacity, job, part, place, position, purpose, role, task, work
    related: affair, concern, hand, involvement, participation, niche, office, post, situation, calling, occupation, pursuit, vocation, activity, assignment, charge, commission, duty, employ, mission, responsibility, service, use

Function (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to have a certain purpose

    "the heart functions as a pump for the blood"

    similar: act, perform, serve, work
    related: operate, run, administer, carry on, control, direct, guide, handle, manage, oversee, regulate, supervise

Related Entry: Composite (noun)

Composite is a different word from Function. The synonyms below are for composite, not for function.

  1. a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things

    "a striking composite of two separate images"

    similar: admixture, alloy, amalgam, amalgamation, blend, cocktail, combination, compound, conflation, emulsion, fusion, intermixture, meld, mix, mixture, synthesis
    related: half-and-half, absorption, blending, coalescence, coalition, commingling, commixture, compost, concretion, homogenization, immingling, immixture, incorporation, integration, interfusion, intermingling, mergence, merger, merging, mingling, assortment, hash, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jumble, medley, mélange, mishmash, motley, patchwork, potpourri, variety, accumulation, aggregation, conglomeration
    near: component, constituent, element, ingredient

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Function

The most common words with a similar meaning to Function:

affair, bash, binge, blast, blowout, do, event, fete, get-together, party, reception, shindig, appointment, berth, billet, capacity, connection, job, place, position, post, situation, business, part, purpose, role, task, work, act, perform, serve

Related Words for Function

benefit, fund-raiser, ball, dance, formal, prom, celebration, gala, occasion, bacchanal, bacchanalia, orgy, saturnalia, bake, clambake, cocktail party, hen party, house party, housewarming, icebreaker, kaffeeklatsch, kegger, klatch, masquerade, meet and greet, mixer, salon, shower, social, soiree

Near Antonyms of Function

avocation, joblessness, unemployment

Word Forms of Function

Inflections: functioned, functioning

Derived words: functionless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Function

Latin function-, functio performance, from fungi to perform; probably akin to Sanskrit bhuṅkte he enjoys

First known use: 1533

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Function

Words & Phrases Containing Function

function key, function word, Bessel function, circular function, composite function, cumulative distribution function, density function, discriminant function

Frequently Asked Questions about Function

What does "Function" mean?

"Function" means professional or official position, occupation. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: professional or official position, occupation. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Function"?

Other words for "Function" include affair, bash, binge, blast, blowout, do, event and fete. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Function" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Function"?

There are 112 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Function". Common alternatives include affair, bash, binge, blast, blowout, do, event, fete, get-together and party.

How do you use "Function" in a sentence?

Examples of "Function" in a sentence: "made a brief appearance at the annual holiday function"; "what's your function in this company?"; "that machine's function is to sort bolts by size".

Is "Function" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Function" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Function" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Function" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Function"?

"Function" is pronounced /ˈfəŋ(k)-shən/ and divided into syllables as func·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Function"?

"Function" comes from Latin function-, functio performance, from fungi to perform; probably akin to Sanskrit bhuṅkte he enjoys. First known use: 1533.