crank

verb

cranked; cranking; cranks

intransitive verb

1

: to move with a winding course : zigzag

2

a

: to turn a crank

b

: to get started by or as if by the turning of a crank

c

: to gain speed, momentum, or intensity

—usually used with up

the campaign is cranking up

transitive verb

1

: to move or operate by or as if by a crank

crank the window down

2

a

: to cause to start

crank an automobile

b

: to rotate the shaft (such as a crankshaft) of especially with a starter

crank over an engine

c

: to use in trying to start an engine

crank the starter

3

a

: to start as if by use of a crank

—usually used with up

she cranked up the air conditioner

b

: turn up sense 2

—usually used with up

crank up the volume

Synonyms of crank

• trigger
• activate
• spark
• drive
• power

Examples of crank in a Sentence

He cranked the temperature to 75 degrees.

Crank the engine to see if it will start.

Recent Examples on the Web

The heat officially cranks up this week as the heat index rises into the upper 90s. —Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 June 2026

Though there is sometimes overlap between the thriller and horror genres, the former isn’t always out to scare you, but cranking up the tension is still a major goal. —Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026

Even when the air-conditioning is cranking, my friends and I are still dripping in sweat. —Jeremy Rellosa, Curbed, 4 June 2026

The war with Iran has already sent oil prices and inflation higher, cranking up the pressure on the global economy. —Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing crank

• crank out

Rhymes for crank

• banc
• bank
• blank
• clank
• dank
• drank
• flank
• franc
• hank
• lank
• plank
• prank

Kids Definition

crank

1 of 2 noun

ˈkraŋk 

1

: a bent part of an axle or shaft or an armlike part at right angles to the end of a shaft that gives or receives circular motion

2

a

: a person with strange ideas

b

: a cross or irritable person

crank

2 of 2 verb

: to move, run, or start by or as if by turning a crank

crank up the window

you had to crank the old car

the engine isn't cranking right

Medical Definition

crank

noun

ˈkraŋk 

: crystal meth

specifically : an impure form of crystal meth