actuate

American  

[ak-choo-eyt] / ˈæk tʃuˌeɪt /

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.

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actuate British  

/ ˈæktʃʊˌeɪt /

verb

1. to put into action or mechanical motion

2. to motivate or incite into action

   actuated by unworthy desires

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of actuate

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

Example Sentences

The jacket would actuate and "hug" the dog based on a Bluetooth signal from Forman's smartphone.

From Science Daily • Oct. 26, 2023

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

From The Verge • Jun. 22, 2022

"My task was to design the means of allowing a customer, and only a genuine customer, to actuate the dispenser mechanism," he said.

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2016

Screens were mostly resistive, that is, hard to actuate with a tap. 

From Forbes • Apr. 25, 2011

This is ample to drive a battery of three smooth-roll machines and two markers, and yet have sufficient reserve to actuate a small pump for the water supply.

From The Preparation of Plantation Rubber by Morgan, Sidney