The meaning of ACTUATE is to put into mechanical action or motion. How to use actuate in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Actuate.

Causing things to happen (Definition of actuated from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

If a person is actuated by an emotion, that emotion makes them act in a certain way.

1. To put into motion or action; activate: electrical relays that actuate the elevator. 2. To cause to take action: a speech that actuated dissenters.

Definition of actuate verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

ACTUATE definition: to incite or move to action; impel; motivate. See examples of actuate used in a sentence.

Someone who's actuated is motivated or inspired to do something. A prisoner who's actuated to escape may actually dig his way out of jail using a plastic spoon.

Actuate definition: To put into motion or action; activate.

He had been actuated [= motivated] by greed when he made his decision. = His decision had been actuated by greed.

Mar 1, 2026 · actuate (third-person singular simple present actuates, present participle actuating, simple past and past participle actuated) (transitive) To activate, or to put into motion; to animate.