actuating

verb

present participle of actuate
1
as in activating
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 driving
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

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.
Recent Examples of actuating Creating such complex structures combining soft and rigid features and actuating them with artificial muscles would further our understanding of natural kinematic structures. — IEEE Spectrum, 6 Mar. 2026 Dynamic soft robots To create OCTOID’s modular actuating legs, researchers fabricated active (AL) and passive layers (PL) from cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs) using a bottom-up self-assembly of reactive mesogens, crosslinkers, and chain extenders. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuating
  1. activating
  2. driving
  3. triggering
  4. moving
  5. sparking
  6. propelling
Verb
  • The Royals considered activating Witt on Friday before their game at the Colorado Rockies.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • In the Character Wheel, the eleven dimensions are integrated, each activating and restraining the others.
    — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of activating
Verb
  • Jones is accused of committing nine offenses against the man, including kissing him multiple times without consent and touching the man’s genitals while the man was driving.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Still, analysts warned that the coordinated action may prove no more durable than previous interventions unless Japan addresses the structural forces driving yen weakness.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of driving
Verb
  • Other team-period notes With the second team in the same period, running back Brashard Smith caught a quick pass from Justin Fields and juked a defender, triggering a collective gasp from the crowd.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
  • As the compressed sides bulge outward under load, the tower’s structural strength drops sharply, frequently triggering sudden buckling or catastrophic collapse.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026
Definition of triggering
Verb
  • That includes the recent NXT call-up of Ricky Saints as well as Raw stars Finn Balor and Gunther moving over to Friday nights.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The Fairview Fire was estimated at about 979 acres and remains a fast-moving threat, according to firefighters.
    — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of moving
Verb
  • The organization further noted that the showcase created meaningful engagement with the material while sparking conversations around co-production, financing, distribution and international collaboration.
    — E'Ian West, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Doing so could serve the purpose of sparking other suitors into action.
    — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of sparking
Verb
  • The noirish mystery propelling the narrative isn’t even really the point.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
  • Ionescu scored 14 points in the first quarter, propelling the visitors to a 36-30 lead.
    — Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Definition of propelling

Browse Nearby Words

actuates
actuating
actuator
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Cite this Entry

“Actuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuating. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on actuating

Nglish: Translation of actuating for Spanish Speakers

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