This is the 4281st most frequent Polish word.
działał
"Was working," "operated," or "acted" (past tense of "działać").
In this sentence, 'działał' is used in the context of describing someone's occupational role in the past.
On działał jako nauczyciel przed przejściem na emeryturę.
He worked as a teacher before retiring.
In this sentence, 'działał' conveys the functionality or operation of a device in the past.
Komputer nie działał przez całą noc.
The computer wasn't working throughout the night.
Here, 'działał' is used to describe coordinated group activity in the past.