1
as in to activate
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 to move
to set or keep in motion
hearing depends on sound vibrations that actuate the complex mechanism of that sensory organ, the ear
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of actuate
And a story was planted that Nazi Germany actuated the Katyn Massacre in 1940.
—
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2024
The cascading dominoes can also be lightweight, flexible, and actuated by a variety of soft actuators (for example, shape memory alloys, inflatable actuators, bending actuators, etc.), whereas conveyor systems are operated by electric motors.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Mar. 2023
When in alarm mode, the slide must be actuated again to wind the alarm, changing the bell from red to white.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 10 Nov. 2023
Other teams favored a physical interface, strapping the operator into hardware (almost like a robotic exoskeleton) that could read their motions and then actuate the limbs of the avatar robot to match, while simultaneously providing force feedback.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for actuate
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2024
The cascading dominoes can also be lightweight, flexible, and actuated by a variety of soft actuators (for example, shape memory alloys, inflatable actuators, bending actuators, etc.), whereas conveyor systems are operated by electric motors.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Mar. 2023
When in alarm mode, the slide must be actuated again to wind the alarm, changing the bell from red to white.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 10 Nov. 2023
Other teams favored a physical interface, strapping the operator into hardware (almost like a robotic exoskeleton) that could read their motions and then actuate the limbs of the avatar robot to match, while simultaneously providing force feedback.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for actuate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuate
Verb
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The Blue Jays outfielder’s incredible play came just hours after Toronto activated him off the injured list to make his season debut.—
Jenna West,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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The ability of car companies to charge users to activate some features is effectively the only reason the car’s systems need to communicate with cell towers.—
Dell Cameron,
Wired News,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Coppola was moved by the tributes that had been bestowed.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2025
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According to Victoria Dittmar of Insight Crime, a think tank that studies organized crime in the Americas, production continues by other Sinaloa cartel factions, and has since moved into neighboring states like Sonora and Baja California, where cooks operate under the oversight of the cartel.—
Jason Motlagh,
Rolling Stone,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The handling of the sensitive military discussions among Trump's brass also triggered widespread U.S. security concerns.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
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That change in pressure triggered the mantle rocks to melt—and created the molten reservoir that fueled the Virginia eruptions.—
Alexandra Witze,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Ontario Home Builders’ Association warned last month that tariffs and counter-tariffs on steel and aluminum products would likely drive up the costs of construction materials, making building and buying new homes more expensive, worsening the housing affordability issue.—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2025
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The study found a 6% annual decline, driven by poaching, habitat loss and weak law enforcement.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Over the last few weeks President Donald Trump’s trade wars have triggered market instability, stoked fears of stagflation, alienated America's traditional trading partners, and sparked boycotts of American goods.—
Made by History,
Time,
28 Apr. 2025
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Fox News Digital recently reported that pro-Hamas and pro-Palestinian agitators stormed a talk by former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett at Princeton, sparking criticism from Jewish students at Princeton.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The baseball traveled 375 feet and propelled the Tigers to a 3-1 victory.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
19 Apr. 2025
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Though often criticized and not without frequent failures, the company’s resilience and experimentation have propelled major advancements in electric vehicles and renewable energy.—
Glenn Llopis,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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By Carmen Arroyo | Bloomberg Elon Musk’s X Holdings Corp. is evolving from a social media platform powered by mainstream advertisers to one betting on dollars generated from artificial intelligence and subscriptions — a change that appears to have buoyed its revenue lately.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2025
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Two goals from Messi powered Miami to a dramatic 3-1 in the second leg.—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Everywhere The intersection of technology and education is one of the most compelling areas to impel social and economic development.—
Haroldo Jacobovicz,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Wayne Cornelius, an immigration scholar at the University of California, San Diego, has found that bleak job prospects are most likely to impel undocumented immigrants to leave.—
Miriam Jordan,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Actuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuate. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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