keying (up)

verb

present participle of key (up)
as in setting off

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for keying (up)
  1. setting off
  2. pumping up
  3. motivating
  4. energizing
  5. activating
  6. quickening
Verb
  • This year, Europe has been sweltering under an exceptionally hot and arid summer, with tinderbox conditions setting off unprecedented fires that have forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate homes and vacation spots.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The peaceful exile is shattered when Ravana’s sister, Surpanakha (played by Rakul Preet Singh), becomes infatuated with Rama, setting off a chain of events that leads to her humiliation.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 July 2026
Definition of setting off
Verb
  • 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
  • In other words, pumping up the stock market was seen as a way to drive consumer spending.
    — George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Definition of pumping up
Verb
  • Rather than motivating her to get back into the studio, Cardi, 33, said the complaints can have the opposite effect.
    — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The joint endorsement of scientific experts and the general public was the most powerful force motivating Americans to act, whether on climate, public health, or technology.
    — Anandita Sabherwal, Time, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of motivating
Verb
  • Choose from energizing citrus, cooling eucalyptus and peppermint, calming lavender or a variety pack with five different scents – an easy way to add a little luxury to your daily routine.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • High Democratic turnout for House primaries in Shelby County, which includes Memphis, is the latest sign that redistricting may be energizing Black Southern voters.
    — Clara Ence Morse, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of energizing
Verb
  • Mercury conjoins Jupiter in Leo and your 3rd House of Communication, activating texts, calls, emails, errands, siblings, neighbors, and local connections.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Gonzalez pushed back on the explanation, warning Calvo that activating the emergency lights could have criminal consequences.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of activating
Verb
  • Fiery Mars shifts into your 11th House of Friends, quickening chats and group planning while your expressive nature rallies people around playful, creative goals.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026
  • Recently, though, Disney has begun making moves — including the poaching of Zameczkowski — that suggest its pace of activity in APAC could be quickening.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Keying (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keying%20%28up%29. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All