key (up)

verb

Definition of key (up)next
as in to set off

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for key (up)
  1. set off
  2. motivate
  3. induce
  4. pump up
  5. motive
  6. inspire
  7. energize
  8. activate
Verb
  • In Canton, Ohio, a 46-year-old woman was shot in the back while asleep in bed after a man and others reportedly fired weapons into the air and set off fireworks to celebrate the holiday late Friday night.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 5 July 2026
  • Kevin Pina’s rocket set off an eruption of joy, only for Cape Verde to trail at half-time mostly because of Maximiliano Araujo, the only Uruguay attacker showing any semblance of form.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of set off
Verb
  • That the notion of being a more perfect union, not the perfect union, is really what motivates me.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 5 July 2026
  • In 2011, Aguirre devised a technique to motivate his Real Zaragoza players ahead of a league match against Real Madrid.
    — Colin Millar, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of motivate
Verb
  • The minerals are absorbed through the skin, boosting circulation and inducing a sweat that drains away the toxins.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
  • Catnip, the euphoria-inducing herb beloved by felines, was known to have insect repellent properties, though it had never been commercialized for that purpose.
    — Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of induce
Verb
  • The company started its program in 2023 and has already pumped up that payout by another 57%.
    — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Another holiday weekend is approaching rapidly, and that means retailers are taking the opportunity to pump up the sales.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 30 June 2026
Definition of pump up
Verb
  • Stockton police said no suspect or motive information was available for this shooting either.
    — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 28 June 2026
  • At the time of writing, police have not identified a suspect or motive in her case.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 12 June 2026
Definition of motive
Verb
  • Styles and Swift dated on-and-off until 2013, when their breakup inspired several songs on Swift’s 1989.
    — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 8 July 2026
  • Richards, who slept with his guitar and kept a tape recorder by his bed in case he got inspired, came up with the riff and refrain virtually in his sleep.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 July 2026
Definition of inspire
Verb
  • We’re really energized by entering into that tender process with a view to [having one of our labels] winning it.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
  • His go-ahead goal energized the sellout crowd of 64,478, which was awash in red and white and dominated by English fans, including rock legend Mick Jagger and former England captain David Beckham, the Inter Miami co-owner.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 12 July 2026
Definition of energize
Verb
  • The company told deputies that someone at the Sheriff's Office or a Flock employee could have reactivated the feature, or that a system bug could have automatically activated it.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • Press down on the trigger lock switch before squeezing the trigger to activate the blade.
    — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026
Definition of activate
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.

Browse Nearby Words

keys (up)
key (up)
khan
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Cite this Entry

“Key (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/key%20%28up%29. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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