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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Sparks or embers can drift into leaves or grass, triggering a fire that can rapidly propagate.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Mar. 2026 -
War in Iran The US-Israeli conflict with Iran has triggered the biggest disruption to air travel across the Gulf region since the Covid-19 pandemic, with commercial airline operations thrown into turmoil by airspace closures.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The moody Moon activates your 3rd House of Chatter while squaring radical Uranus in your 6th House of Sensibility, prompting updates in accordance with shifting timelines.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
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The discount is particularly useful for travelers planning to attend premium events such as playoff games, arena concerts, or high-demand theater shows, since ticket prices for those experiences often exceed the $150 minimum required to activate the promotion.—
Paris Wilson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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First introduced in 2013, the original collection of over 40,000 bulbs that lit up the structure sparked attention like never before.—
Brad Hamilton,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
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Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil is transported, is sparking concerns about tightening energy supplies -- unnerving the world economy.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Teoscar Hernandez hit a three-run home run and Eliezer Alfonzo drove in two with a double during a five-run third inning.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
17 Mar. 2026
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Serafini then left the home on foot to meet with Scott, who had been waiting for him in the getaway car to drive back to Nevada.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Braden Smith’s 11 assists helped power Purdue to the Big Ten championship over Michigan and put him within one of the NCAA record held by Duke’s Bobby Hurley.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
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The largest data center in Illinois is scheduled for Yorkville and will require as much as 2 gigawatts of electricity, enough to power 30% of all the households in our state.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 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 19 Mar. 2026.
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