function
function
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "function" is /ˈfʌŋkʃən/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
func-: /fʌŋk/ (f-uh-ng-k)
-tion: /ʃən/ (sh-uh-n)
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: function
Plural: functions
Verb:
Base form: function
Third-person singular present: functions
Present participle: functioning
Past tense: functioned
Past participle: functioned
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A specific duty, role, or purpose that a person or thing is designed or expected to perform.
Example: The primary function of a heart is to pump blood.
Synonyms: purpose, role, duty, task, responsibility, office, capacity
Antonyms: disuse, idleness, uselessness, irrelevance
A large or formal social event or ceremony.
Example: The annual company dinner is an important social function.
Synonyms: event, gathering, occasion, party, reception, ceremony
Antonyms: solitude, isolation, seclusion, privacy
In mathematics, a relation or expression involving one or more variables.
Example: In the equation y=f(x), y is a function of x.
Synonyms: mapping, operation, transformation
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms in this mathematical sense, as it describes a type of relationship)
Verb
To work or operate in a particular way; to perform a specified action or activity.
Example: The new computer system will function more efficiently.
Synonyms: operate, work, perform, run, act, serve
Antonyms: fail, malfunction, break down, cease, stop
Examples of Use
Books:
"The chief function of the critic, as I see it, is to get people to understand and enjoy art." (Susan Sontag, Against Interpretation, 1966)
"Every part of the machine had a specific function, from the smallest cog to the largest lever."
Newspapers:
"Economists are closely monitoring how recent interest rate hikes function to cool inflation without triggering a recession." (Reuters, June 2024)
"The newly elected city council's first function will be to address the housing crisis."
Online Publications:
"Understanding the function of artificial intelligence in modern cybersecurity is crucial for businesses." (Forbes.com, May 2024)
"The new app is designed to function seamlessly across all mobile devices, regardless of operating system."
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film (Dialogue): "Your function in this operation is to provide backup, not to engage directly." (From a spy thriller)
Television Series (Narration): "The human brain's complex function allows for abstract thought and emotional processing." (From a documentary series on neuroscience)
Video Game (In-game text/tutorial): "Press 'X' to activate your special function."
Music (Lyrics): "Broken hearts still function, somehow, through the pain." (From a contemporary pop song)
General Public Discourse:
"My old car doesn't function as well as it used to in cold weather."
"Attending the charity gala was a lovely function for a good cause."
"What's the function of that button on the remote control?"
10 Quotes Using Function
"The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers." (Ralph Nader)
"The function of art is to make us remember what we have forgotten." (Alain de Botton)
"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." (Martin Luther King Jr.)
"The function of the press is very high: it is to do nothing less than enlighten the people." (Walter Lippmann)
"The true function of a writer is to produce a masterpiece and that is the only function." (E.M. Forster)
"The function of a good scientific theory is to show how all the evidence is not inconsistent with it." (J.B.S. Haldane)
"The function of power is to protect the powerless." (Aung San Suu Kyi)
"The function of a university is not to be a hotbed of revolution. It is to be a center of independent thought." (Noam Chomsky)
"The function of the artist is to disturb. The function of the critic is to be disturbed." (Alfred Hitchcock)
"The function of the law is not to provide justice, but to provide order." (Michael Connelly, The Lincoln Lawyer)
Etymology
The word "function" comes from the Latin word "functio," which means "a performance, an execution." This Latin root, in turn, is related to the verb "fungi," meaning "to perform, to execute, to discharge."
So, at its very core, "function" has always been about doing something, performing a duty, or carrying out a task.
The first known use of "function" in English dates back to the 1530s. At that time, its primary meaning was "the performance of an office or duty; an official or professional vocation." In simpler terms, it referred to the specific job or role someone was expected to carry out.
Over time, the meaning expanded. By the late 17th century, it also began to refer to the purpose or role that anything (not just a person) might serve, such as the function of an organ in the body. The mathematical sense of the word, referring to a relationship between variables, emerged later in the 18th century.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Function
In full function: Operating perfectly; completely operational.
To function as: To serve the role of.
Loss of function: A state where something no longer works as intended.
Key function: A critically important role or purpose.
Beyond its function: Exceeding its expected or primary purpose.
Proper function: The correct or intended operation.
Core function: The central and most essential purpose.
To serve a purpose/function: To fulfill a specific role or use. (using a synonym for similar effect)
To carry out a duty/function: To perform an assigned task or role. (using a synonym for similar effect)
Out of order: Not working; malfunctioning (often implying a loss of function). (idiom with a similar effect)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of function from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
