operate

/ˈɒpəɹeɪt/

//ˈɒpəɹeɪt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"operate" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“operate” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,013 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#3,013
frequency rank, English
7
letters
9
tracked misspellings
7
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To perform a work or labour; to exert power or strength, physical or mechanical; to act.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

operate vs opiate
71% similar
operate vs operated
88% similar
operate vs operator
75% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for operate
PropertyValue
Headwordoperate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈɒpəɹeɪt/
Letters7
Frequency rank#3,013
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs7
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “operate” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). operate lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for operate is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɒpəɹeɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,013 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for operate, with forms such as "oeprate", "opearte", and "operaet". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 7 confusable-pair relationships, "opiate", "operated", "operator", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin operātus, perfect passive participle of operor (“to work, labor, toil, have effect”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). The correct English form is operate, spelled O-P-E-R-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To perform a work or labour; to exert power or strength, physical or mechanical; to act.
  2. 2
    To produce an effect.
  3. 3
    To produce an effect.
  4. 4
    To produce an effect.
  5. 5
    To bring about as an effect; to cause.
  6. 6
    To perform some manual act upon a human body in a methodical manner, and usually with instruments, with a view to restore soundness or health, as in amputation, lithotomy, etc.
  7. 7
    To deal in stocks or any commodity with a view to speculative profits.
  8. 8
    To put into, or to continue in, operation or activity; to work.

Etymology

From Latin operātus, perfect passive participle of operor (“to work, labor, toil, have effect”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

This word in other languages

operar(Español)opérer(Français)operieren(Deutsch)obrar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: oeprate,opearte,operaet,operatte,operrate,opertae,opperate,opreate,poerate

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of operate - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

oeprate2opearte2operaet2operatte1operrate1opertae2opperate1opreate2
Edit distance from "operate"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "operate"?
"operate" is spelled O-P-E-R-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɒpəɹeɪt/.
What does "operate" mean?
As a verb, "operate" means: To perform a work or labour; to exert power or strength, physical or mechanical; to act.
What words are commonly confused with "operate"?
"operate" is commonly confused with "opiate", "operated", "operator". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "operate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "operate" is /ˈɒpəɹeɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "operate"?
From Latin operātus, perfect passive participle of operor (“to work, labor, toil, have effect”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “operate”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is O-P-E-R-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɒpəɹeɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “opiate” - see the side-by-side comparison. operate vs opiate
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list