It was a relief when I finally caught the operative word.

The operative word is story; we're not meant to produce games.

He had said earlier that scared was the operative word.

It would be one of the operative words, I'd think.

It had lost 9 of 10 games and the operative word was survival.

"Was being the operative word," he said, running a hand through his hair while continuing to watch her.

Here, as on other parts of the program, the operative word is quick.

"Mixed" is the operative word in this approach to the problem.

But the operative word in his life has always been "control."

Tired, in fact, was the operative word for the evening.