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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
  • This worker should own every stage, including attracting attention, nurturing intent, converting demand, activating customers, maximizing revenue and turning customers into distribution.
    — Jake Lee, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers therefore began exploring partial reprogramming, briefly activating the Yamanaka factors in ways that appear to rejuvenate cells while maintaining their specialized identities.
    — Venki Ramakrishnan, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of activating
Verb
  • Assigning officers to walk in community beat patrols instead of driving around in cars.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Health workers are receiving the Ervebo shot, a vaccine effective against a different Ebola strain than the Bundibugyo virus, which is driving this outbreak and has no licensed vaccine or treatment.
    — Constant Same Bagalwa, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of driving
Verb
  • Adidas recently was informed of UM’s agreement with Nike, triggering a short right-to-match period.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026
  • So are the mechanisms for triggering a video review, and so are the reviewable plays.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of triggering
Verb
  • Optical fiber, however, provides a practical path for moving information across long distances.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026
  • This book doesn’t use that idea too much, but moving from room to room like that is in there for sure.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of moving
Verb
  • Mining for copper fell in the first half of the year relative to the same period in 2025, sparking fears over long-term supplies of the metal, which is key for the clean energy transition and building data centers.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The economics of journalism itself, and the war is sparking options traders’ interest.
    — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of sparking
Verb
  • Oates turned left in front of Mulderrig toward Kingsgate Drive, and the motorcycle slammed into the Cadillac, propelling Mulderrig into the air and leading to his death, both sides agreed.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Like, what kinds of businesses were propelling people into the top of the income distribution?
    — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of propelling

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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 24 Sep. 2026.

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