A method for operating an ultrasonic system having a multiplicity of ultrasonic sensors is disclosed. The sensors are arranged distributed on a motor vehicle and are actuated in measuring cycles for the emission of an ultrasonic signal, where the measuring cycles are repeated. An object in the surroundings of the motor vehicle is detected by a detection device, different from the ultrasonic system, of the motor vehicle, and a relative position of the object relative to the motor vehicle is determined. The number of ultrasonic sensors which are actuated within one measuring cycle is then defined as a function of the current relative position.