Dictionary

actuate en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈæktju.eɪt/ (UK)
• /ˈækt͡ʃu.eɪt/ (Canada, General-American)
• audio Queensland
• (US) audio
• /ˈæktʃu.eɪt/ (UK)
• /ˈækt͡ʃʉ.æɪt/ (Australia)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Italic *-tus Latin -tus Latin āctus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin āctuō Medieval Latin āctuātusder. English actuate From Medieval Latin āctuātus, perfect passive participle of āctuō (“actuate, implement”), from Latin āctus, perfect passive participle of agō (“do, act”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To activate, or to put into motion; to animate.
   • Wings, which others were contriving to actuate by the perpetual motion. November 6, 1750, Samuel Johnson, The Rambler No. 67
   • I walk always with my right hand closed round the india-rubber ball which I have in my trouser pocket. The pressing of this ball actuates a detonator inside the flask I carry in my pocket. It's the principle of the pneumatic instantaneous shutter for a camera lens. 1906 January–October, Joseph Conrad, chapter IV, in The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale (Collection of British Authors; 3995), copyright edition, London: Bernhard Tauchnitz, published 1907, →OCLC, pages 68–69:
2. (transitive) To incite to action; to motivate.
   • 1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral, 2. ed., London, Oxford University Press, 1973. § 11. A man in a fit of anger, is actuated in a very different manner from one who only thinks of that emotion.
   • Men of the greatest abilities are most fired with ambition; and, on the contrary, mean and narrow minds are the least actuated by it. 1712 January 1 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “FRIDAY, December 22, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 255; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume III, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:

Forms

Deriveds

actuation · underactuate · reactuate · actuator · actuatable

Relateds

actualize · actualise

Synonyms

tempt · invoke · stimulate · encourage · inflame · provoke · evoke · fuel · trigger · promote · induce · cheer · set off · rouse · actuate · sting · lash · obligate · excite · set in motion · spark off · goose · stir up · spur on · bring about · impel · get going · whet · grill · light a fire under · stoke · ignite · draw · instigate · send · whip up · drive · provoke · prompt · set off · spur · goad · motivate · push · foment · abet · instigate · engender · egg on · move · oblige · stir · motive · incite · urge

Translations (42)

bg възбуждам (to activate; put into motion) · la incendō (to incite to action) · de anstacheln (to incite to action) · bg подбуждам към действие (to incite to action) · pt estimular (to incite to action) · ru приводи́ть в де́йствие (to activate; put into motion) · hu hajt (to incite to action) · hu ösztönöz (to incite to action) · es accionar (to activate; put into motion) · hu sarkall (to incite to action) · hu működésbe hoz (to activate; put into motion) · cs aktivovat (to activate; put into motion) · fi liikuttaa (to activate; put into motion) · hu mozgásba hoz (to activate; put into motion) · pl uruchomić (to activate; put into motion) · el κινητοποιώ (to activate; put into motion) · bg задвижвам (to activate; put into motion) · et rakendama (to incite to action) · la āctuō (to activate; put into motion) · fi innostaa (to incite to action) · nl aandrijven (to activate; put into motion) · de aktivieren (to activate; put into motion) · de antreiben (to incite to action) · la incitō (to incite to action) · la acuō (to incite to action) · cs podněcovat (to incite to action) · ru побуди́ть к де́йствию (to incite to action) · la stimulō (to incite to action) · fi kannustaa (to incite to action) · nl aanzetten (to incite to action) · el ενεργοποιώ (to activate; put into motion) · fi motivoida (to incite to action) · de in Gang setzen (to activate; put into motion) · de motivieren (to incite to action) · ru побужда́ть к де́йствию (to incite to action) · es accionar (to incite to action) · de bewegen (to incite to action) · pl pobudzać (to incite to action) · ru привести́ в де́йствие (to activate; put into motion) · ja 作動させる (to activate; put into motion) · fi käyttää (to activate; put into motion) · la excitō (to incite to action)