actuate

[ak-choo-eyt]

verb (used with object)

actuated, actuating 

1. to incite or move to action; impel; motivate.

   actuated by selfish motives.

2. to put into action; start a process; turn on.

   to actuate a machine.

actuate

/ ˈæktʃʊˌeɪt /

verb

1. to put into action or mechanical motion

2. to motivate or incite into action

   actuated by unworthy desires

Other Word Forms

• actuation noun
• deactuate verb (used with object)
• self-actuating adjective
• unactuated adjective
• actuator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of actuate¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Medieval Latin āctuāt(us) “reduced to action” (past participle of āctuāre ), equivalent to Latin āctu(s) ( act ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of actuate¹

C16: from Medieval Latin actuātus, from actuāre to incite to action, from Latin āctus _act

Example Sentences

In a statement issued by his lawyer, Wootton said the allegations were "completely spurious - lies designed to destroy my career where complainants were actuated by malice".

From BBC

The researchers replaced the heart muscle in the left chamber with a silicone-made soft robotic pump system actuated by air.

From Science Daily

In this way, the fibers actuate using electricity, which offers a user digital control over a textile's form.

From Science Daily

For starters, you can adjust the point at which its switches actuate and register a keypress.

From The Verge

You need to press them 1.9mm before they actuate, compared to 1.2mm for Cherry MX Speed Silver, for example.

From The Verge