1
as in to activate
to cause to function
a light actuated by a motion detector the alarm system actuates the door locks
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to move
to set or keep in motion
hearing depends on sound vibrations that actuate the complex mechanism of that sensory organ, the ear
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of actuate
And a story was planted that Nazi Germany actuated the Katyn Massacre in 1940.
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Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2024
The cascading dominoes can also be lightweight, flexible, and actuated by a variety of soft actuators (for example, shape memory alloys, inflatable actuators, bending actuators, etc.), whereas conveyor systems are operated by electric motors.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Mar. 2023
When in alarm mode, the slide must be actuated again to wind the alarm, changing the bell from red to white.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 10 Nov. 2023
Other teams favored a physical interface, strapping the operator into hardware (almost like a robotic exoskeleton) that could read their motions and then actuate the limbs of the avatar robot to match, while simultaneously providing force feedback.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for actuate 
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2024
The cascading dominoes can also be lightweight, flexible, and actuated by a variety of soft actuators (for example, shape memory alloys, inflatable actuators, bending actuators, etc.), whereas conveyor systems are operated by electric motors.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Mar. 2023
When in alarm mode, the slide must be actuated again to wind the alarm, changing the bell from red to white.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 10 Nov. 2023
Other teams favored a physical interface, strapping the operator into hardware (almost like a robotic exoskeleton) that could read their motions and then actuate the limbs of the avatar robot to match, while simultaneously providing force feedback.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for actuate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuate
Verb
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Warming stations have been activated throughout Georgia as the state experiences sub-freezing temperatures.Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2025
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In October, SpaceX and T-Mobile also activated the system on an emergency basis to help victims of Hurricanes Helene and Milton receive cellular coverage.Michael Kan, PCMAG, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The couple had just moved from their modest fixer-upper in Altadena’s Janes Village to their dream home in architect Gregory Ain’s Park Planned homes, when the Eaton fire roared to life.Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
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While Alt moved from the left side to the right, Latham made the reverse transition and played well in his first season at left tackle.Dane Brugler, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The defense argues that their pending appeal should trigger an automatic stay, which would pause the process.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
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The inauguration in two weeks of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has brought a new element of uncertainty and triggered an apparent effort by both sides to establish battlefield gains before any possible peace talks.Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Selvedge represents three percent of Cone’s overall business, primarily driven by small premium brands from Europe, China, and the U.S. with specific capsule collections.Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 14 Jan. 2025
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Banana and Nut Butter In addition to tryptophan, the sugar in ripe bananas may help release insulin, driving larger amino acids into muscle tissue.Allison Herries, Verywell Health, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Choi has similarly spoken about the importance of handling the delicate situation in a prudent manner that avoids sparking wider unrest.Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Jan. 2025
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Lyrics are usually the last part, but sometimes a specific idea or thought would spark me to write a structure around that.Ron Hart, SPIN, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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This type of marketing taps into our psyches and propels us toward a vision of what could be rather than what is.Salim Gheewalla, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
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The mayor has promised to end unsheltered homelessness in the area, a pledge that propelled him to office.Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Acer has launched two new handheld PCs, the Nitro Blaze 8 and 11 with higher resolution displays powered by AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processors.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
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Under the hood, it’s powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, paired with up to 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of storage.Prakhar Khanna, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Are the individuals to blame, or are they impelled by a cruel society or a divinely sanctioned hand?Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
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Economic troubles have impelled many Southern conservatives, like Mayor Rocker, to consider fresh approaches to the role that government plays in health care.Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near actuate
Cite this Entry
“Actuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuate. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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