as in to trigger
to cause to function
crank up the CD player so we can dance
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crank (up)
Verb
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West, a former junior Foreign Office minister, would need support from 20% of Labour MPs — or 81 members — to trigger a contest.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026 -
In 1992, a buildup of methane gas and coal dust triggered a massive explosion in the Westray Mine in Nova Scotia, Canada, killing 26 coal miners.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Tonight the Aries Moon activates ambition, and a decision about visibility or leadership may suddenly feel obvious.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
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But mostly, the Sparks’ defense activated, forcing 10 Las Vegas turnovers, led by two steals apiece from Atkins and Wheeler to fuel the comeback.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
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The comedian was subsequently taken off the air, sparking outcry and accusations of government censorship.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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But pilots and aviation experts say such warnings have been increasingly sparking alarm in cockpits as bogus signals from global positioning satellites hit commercial flights.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For instance, researchers found that rapid urbanization and electrification across Asia drove brightening in cities from China to India to Sub-Saharan Africa.—
Bree Shirvell,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
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The novel starts out on a highway, in a car that’s driving too fast.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Our rate structure applies to all large-load customers that rely on significant and continuous electricity use to power their operations around the clock, including data centers.—
Scott Bores,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
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The comedian-heavy ensemble, who are doing press at the festival, will help power this family-friendly film to buyer interest.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
11 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Crank (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crank%20%28up%29. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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