as in to set off
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for key (up)
Verb
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The Florida Marlins beat the New York Mets, setting off a celebration in Milwaukee and a Reds’ flight plan for the West Coast.—
C. Trent Rosecrans,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025 -
The two have long been at odds, going back to the early days of Cardi B’s career, though what appears to have set off this current flare-up were early reports that Cardi’s latest album, which debuted at the top of the charts this week, was the best-performing album from a female rap act in history.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Guardians manager Stephen Vogt wanted to motivate his second baseman, sure.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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Law enforcement officials have not yet said what motivated Sanford.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In particular, TikTokers have posted about the effects of magnesium lotion, oils and sprays to induce sleepiness when used on the bottoms of the feet.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
28 Sep. 2025
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But right-hander Spencer Bivens recorded a strikeout and induced a foul pop with the bases loaded, and third baseman Matt Chapman fell into the netting while catching it to preserve a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Prime Time As tip-off time approaches, Ellie heads to the court to pump up the crowd.—
Marc Williams,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
26 Sep. 2025
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Soundcore has pumped up the bass on these headphones, giving you a more immersive experience.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The study, by the libertarian think tank Cato Institute, found that terrorists motived by extreme slices of right-leaning ideology killed six times more people than those on the other side of the political spectrum between 1975 and Sept. 10, 2025.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
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Local police have yet to identify either a suspect or motive in the shooting, while the teenager’s friends and family mourn and look for answers.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The show gave local independent musicians exposure on its soundtrack, increased the popularity of venues like The Bluebird Cafe, inspired cast tours and years later, sparked reunion tours.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
5 Oct. 2025
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Trailers showing Erivo in full green-skinned Elphaba costume and Grande decked out in a sparkly pink G(a)linda gown have surely inspired new and old fans alike.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The vital thing about the history of this art form is its creative power, its ability to energize filmmakers of later generations and inspire movies to come.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
2 Oct. 2025
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All the same rules as seeing a movie in a theater apply, combined with the same energizing feelings a live concert gives.—
Meredith G. White,
AZCentral.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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At the same time, Mercury and Mars are activating your sector of expansion, meaning your inner philosopher is loud.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
5 Oct. 2025
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There was no official announcement from Washington that the California National Guard was being called up and sent to Oregon, just as was the case when Illinois’ governor made a similar announcement Saturday about troops in his state being activated.—
Danny Bakst,
Fortune,
5 Oct. 2025
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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 6 Oct. 2025.
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