ACTUATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does actuate mean? 

• ACTUATE (verb)
  The verb ACTUATE has 2 senses:

1. put in motion or move to act

2. give an incentive for action

  Familiarity information: ACTUATE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ACTUATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they actuate    ... he / she / it actuates   
Past simple: actuated   
Past participle: actuated   
-ing form: actuating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Put in motion or move to act

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

activate; actuate; set off; spark; spark off; touch off; trigger; trigger off; trip

Context example:

actuate the circuits

Hypernyms (to "actuate" is one way to...):

initiate; pioneer (take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of)

Cause:

come about; fall out; go on; hap; happen; occur; pass; pass off; take place (come to pass)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

act (something that people do or cause to happen)

actuation (the act of propelling)

actuator (a mechanism that puts something into automatic action)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Give an incentive for action

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

actuate; incite; motivate; move; prompt; propel

Context example:

This moved me to sacrifice my career

Hypernyms (to "actuate" is one way to...):

cause; do; make (give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally)

Verb group:

affect; impress; move; strike (have an emotional or cognitive impact upon)

move (arouse sympathy or compassion in)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

act (something that people do or cause to happen)

 Context examples 

A light actuated film was shaped into a ring and mounted on a needle post.

(New Materials Developed by Scientists Able to Move in Response to Light, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

A switch designed to be actuated by foot pressure.

(Foot Switch Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

When actuated by selfish and vicious motives, I asked you to undertake my unfinished work, and I renew this request now, when I am only induced by reason and virtue.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Elizabeth, though expecting no less, thanked him with tears of gratitude; and all three being actuated by one spirit, everything relating to their journey was speedily settled.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

He had inquired after her, she found, slightly, as might suit a former slight acquaintance, seeming to acknowledge such as she had acknowledged, actuated, perhaps, by the same view of escaping introduction when they were to meet.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

That Miss Crawford should endeavour to secure a meeting between him and Mrs. Rushworth, was all in her worst line of conduct, and grossly unkind and ill-judged; but she hoped he would not be actuated by any such degrading curiosity.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

When you talk of Mr. Murdstone's good intentions, and pretend to slight them (for I don't believe you really do, in your heart, Peggotty), you must be as well convinced as I am how good they are, and how they actuate him in everything.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The light actuated materials created in this study are based on the principle of the Curie temperature—the temperature above which certain materials will change their magnetic properties.

(New Materials Developed by Scientists Able to Move in Response to Light, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

As I have mentioned to Miss Trotwood, I am actuated by no mercenary considerations; few men are less so, I believe; but Mr. Jorkins has his opinions on these subjects, and I am bound to respect Mr. Jorkins's opinions.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Materials used to create the light actuated materials include polydimethylsoloxane (PDMS), which is a widely used transparent elastomer often shaped into flexible films, and silk fibroin, which is a versatile biocompatible material with excellent optical properties that can be shaped into a wide range of forms—from films to gels, threads, blocks and sponges.

(New Materials Developed by Scientists Able to Move in Response to Light, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)