| Actuate 1. (v. t.) To put into action or motion; to incite to action; to activate; as, to actuate a crowd to rioting; to influence actively; to move as motives do; -- more commonly used of persons. 2. (v. t.) To carry out in practice; to perform. 3. (a.) Put in action; actuated. Thesaurus Entries animate, arouse, circulate, compel, drive, drive on, energize, excite, force, forward, foster, galvanize, give an impetus, give momentum, goad, impel, incite, mobilize, motivate, move, move to action, nudge, power, promote, propel, provoke, push, put in motion, rouse, set agoing, set going, set in motion, set off, shove, spark, stimulate, stir, thrust, vitalize, whip on |