keys (up)

verb

present tense third-person singular of key (up)
as in sets off

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for keys (up)
  1. sets off
  2. motivates
  3. activates
  4. induces
  5. energizes
  6. quickens
  7. inspires
  8. animates
Verb
  • Cruise stars as Digger Rockwell, an aging oil magnate whose drilling sets off an ecological disaster.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Ultimately, Miles sacrifices himself so that the others can escape, holding onto the detonator that sets off a massive explosion until his final breath.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of sets off
Verb
  • Review a prospect’s past giving, volunteer work, board memberships and public interests to understand what truly motivates them.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The memory both haunts and motivates Pugh’s Cathy throughout the series.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of motivates
Verb
  • The declaration activates the state's emergency management plan to prepare for hurricanes and other potential natural disasters, allowing actions including the deployment of personnel and equipment to respond.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The geometry of the dome itself regulates ventilation and activates natural air circulation through the stack effect, complemented by floor-level air intake to prevent direct drafts and maintain a consistent microclimate.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of activates
Verb
  • While the Blue Demon induces perceptual disorientation, the Rooster privileges visual attention and the architectural discipline of gaze.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The drug induces a powerful loss of personal identity and a brief but total dissolution of time and space.
    — Ryan Sullivan, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of induces
Verb
  • The first is whether Phase 1 energizes anywhere near its early 2028 target.
    — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Auspicious Jupiter energizes your 3rd House of Communication while imaginative Neptune harmonizes from your 11th House of Friends and Community, making ideas, introductions, and pitches flow more easily.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 20 July 2026
Definition of energizes
Verb
  • More potassium nitrate sustains a longer burn; more sulfur quickens the explosion.
    — Paige Williams, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • As technology advances, the pace of deforestation only quickens, resulting in the penetration and destruction of even the most remote wildernesses.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
Definition of quickens
Verb
  • His wish to gift an original song to Los Tigres del Norte inspires the journey.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026
  • For their intimate ceremony, the groom wore a simple black tux, while Hepburn donned a tea-length dress that still inspires brides today.
    — Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of inspires
Verb
  • The drama that animates Mud is a Sisyphean one, and Wolf casts herself as agent of her own embarrassment and woe.
    — Enzo Escober, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Its legacy animates both movements seeking greater inclusion and campaigns promising to restore a national unity defined in racial or cultural terms.
    — Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of animates
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

keystones
keys (up)
key (up)
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Cite this Entry

“Keys (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keys%20%28up%29. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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