actuates

verb

present tense third-person singular of actuate
1
as in activates
to cause to function a light actuated by a motion detector the alarm system actuates the door locks

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in drives
to set or keep in motion hearing depends on sound vibrations that actuate the complex mechanism of that sensory organ, the ear

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuates
  1. activates
  2. drives
  3. triggers
  4. moves
  5. sparks
Verb
  • The agency rejected the recommendation, saying that using cameras that automatically activate when an officer pulls their weapon or activates a car siren could risk privacy concerns.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • And a few are very highly specific, such as the protease that activates insulin, which only cuts near a very specific series of amino acids.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of activates
Verb
  • The ability for employees to find the best opportunities for themselves and for employers to find the best candidates for the job help to drive innovation, which drives productivity, which drives growth, Richardson has said.
    — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Oscar drives her home and, paralyzed by the situation, leaves her unconscious at her family’s door.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of drives
Verb
  • The outsider girl’s innocent invasion may just be the thing that finally triggers a war.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Getting at least four stars triggers bonuses, which total $13 billion across the industry annually.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of triggers
Verb
  • Such plaudits raise the question of how Movistar Plus moves forward from here.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The mountains east to Hickory could see an average 3 or 4 inches of rain before the system moves from the region by Sunday afternoon, NWS meteorologist Chris Horne told The Charlotte Observer.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of moves
Verb
  • Nothing sparks joy and jumpstarts the Christmas season like a food advent calendar.
    — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
  • This one, steeped in milk and cream, sparks off the roof of your mouth with a gentle chile burn and the pleasantly numbing zap of cloves.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of sparks
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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actuated
actuates
actuating
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Cite this Entry

“Actuates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuates. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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