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Meanings of operative word in English

We have no meanings for "operative word" in our records yet.
Usage of operative word in English
1
Press is the operative word, because there were obviously no electronic media yet.
Wired
2
Score another one for the Lind mind, Goddard thought; public was the operative word.
And the deep blue sea
3
Or course, the operative word in his letter is the word "gross".
The Irish Times
4
Quantity is the operative word, because we are reading bilge.
The Irish Times
5
For most of them, practicing was the operative word.
Empty mile
6
Elsewhere, he thought, was the operative word; anywhere would surely be a better place than here.
Raising Steam
7
Yet the Bears seem - operative word: seem -to have a lot going for them.
Chicago sun times
8
Time is the operative word in that sentence.
Ebony
9
For much of the proceedings, "show" is the operative word.
The Guardian
10
Let's rethink some of them and have fun." And "fun" was the operative word.
Reuters
11
Hope is, of course, the operative word.
The South African
12
But Reynolds is quietly (that's the operative word here) determined that nobody forget his origins.
The Irish Times
13
The operative word in that sentence is clearly "should".
News.com.au
14
Clean was the operative word here, apparently.
Past malice: an emma fielding mystery
15
That seems to be the operative word.
Family ties
16
Tony is such an exquisite boy, but boy is the operative word, and Pamela needs a man.
I’m With the Band
This collocation consists of:
Operative word through the time
Operative word across language varieties
Ireland
Common
United States of America
Common
United Kingdom
Rare