keying (up)

verb

present participle of key (up)
as in setting off

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for keying (up)
  1. setting off
  2. pumping up
  3. motivating
  4. energizing
  5. activating
  6. quickening
Verb
  • Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht, who was 12-for-29 passing for 129 yards and an interception, tossed a final deep ball out of the back of the end zone as time expired, setting off a celebration by Wisconsin defenders.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • In April 2025, then-Commission Chair Chris Measmer resigned to fill a vacancy in the North Carolina Senate, setting off a contentious replacement process.
    — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of setting off
Verb
  • When showing a complex picture with many different hues next to each other, though, pumping up the output of individual LED colors can cause the edges of those hues to tint and warp.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Several stock indexes, including the NASDAQ 100, also relaxed rules for how soon new issues could be included, further pumping up demand.
    — John Ruwitch, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of pumping up
Verb
  • There’s something motivating you that the rest of people right now just don’t understand.
    — Fortune Editors, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Determined, Teagan bulldozes her way through the boathouse, eventually becoming the team’s coxswain, the only non-rowing member who is tasked with steering, managing the race plan and motivating the rest of the team.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of motivating
Verb
  • Worse still, the most energizing talks tended to be ignored by many of the academics in attendance, who preferred to ask questions that indirectly linked back to their area of specialism.
    — Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Its conversational lyrics, lively rhythm and undeniable chemistry give the song a confident, energizing swagger.
    — qygwork, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of energizing
Verb
  • There's also an AI voice assistant for activating in-car features, and a mobile app for remote air conditioning management, charging status monitoring, and automatic parking.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Hawaii officials told residents to put together emergency kits and the governor issued an emergency proclamation, activating more than 230 Hawaii National Guard members.
    — MEGAN JANETSKY, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of activating
Verb
  • The need for businesses, countries, cities and even individuals to be more resilient in the face of the quickening pace and increasing severity of climate disasters.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The media, encouraged by negotiators themselves, often reinforces this view, noting that talks are progressing, referring to their quickening pace or intensifying efforts and the anticipation of further meetings.
    — John R. Bolton, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of quickening
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

keying
keying (up)
keynote
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Cite this Entry

“Keying (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keying%20%28up%29. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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