actuate

[ ak-choo-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ac·tu·at·ed, ac·tu·at·ing.

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

Derived Forms

• ˈactuˌator, noun
• ˌactuˈation, noun

Other Words From

• ac·tu·a·tion [ak-choo-, ey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• de·ac·tu·ate verb (used with object) deactuated deactuating
• self-ac·tu·at·ing adjective
• un·ac·tu·at·ed adjective

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