actuate

verb ac·tu·ate \ ˈak-chə-ˌwāt , -shə- \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of actuate

actuated; actuating

transitive verb

1 : to put into mechanical action or motion

The pump is actuated by the windmill.

2 : to move to action

a decision actuated by greed

—

actuation

play \ˌak-chə-ˈwā-shən, -shə-\ noun

See actuate defined for English-language learners

See actuate defined for kids

Examples of actuate in a Sentence

The pump is actuated by the windmill.
a light actuated by a motion detector

Recent Examples of actuate from the Web

The rear side-door handles on the midrange EX trim and above now have a button to actuate the sliding doors, and the 17-, 18-, and 19-inch wheels all get makeovers.

— tony markovich, Car and Driver, "2019 Kia Sedona: Still Fetching, Still Offers a Lot," 29 Mar. 2018
One company taking a different kind of approach is Toshiba, which has created a partnership with startup S-muscle Co. to develop a robotic hand actuated by artificial muscles made of rubber and fabric.

— daniela hernandez, WSJ, "Robots Are Learning to Handle With Care," 11 Mar. 2018
Every cylinder in the engine can be deactivated via a mechanism that prevents the cam from actuating that cylinder's valves.

— jonathan m. gitlin, Ars Technica, "Clever new cylinder control gives big MPG boost—and it’s ready to roll," 15 Feb. 2018
Össur's Symbionic Leg eliminates hip hiking through a simple robotic twitch: The toe actuates upward during each step, performing what's called dorsiflexion.

— erik sofge, Popular Mechanics, "Smart Bionic Limbs are Reengineering the Human," 28 May 2012
Six computers in the trunk translated inputs from the PS4 controller and actuated the GT-R/C's steering, brakes, throttle, and transmission.

— jonathan m. gitlin, Ars Technica, "Nissan modified this GT-R to be driven with a PS4 controller," 11 Oct. 2017
As Bergum rushed to shut down the engine and feather the propeller, the crew actuated the single-shot engine fire extinguisher.

— eric tegler, Popular Mechanics, "Eight decades after its first flight, the DC-3 remains an aviation legend.," 8 Aug. 2017
The flames are fed by a 10-gallon liquid propane tank, which is secured in the snail’s neck and will be actuated by reins attached to a pair of globe valves pictured here.

— lewis wallace, WIRED, "Snail Car Is Born When Math, Dreams Collide," 29 Aug. 2008
The window switches are mounted high and far forward on the door panel and awkward to actuate.

— alexander stoklosa, Car and Driver, "2017 Jaguar F-Pace," 1 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'actuate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.