keying (up)

verb

present participle of key (up)
as in setting off

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for keying (up)
  1. setting off
  2. pumping up
  3. motivating
  4. energizing
  5. activating
  6. quickening
Verb
  • Valentine and McClain split just before the LP dropped, setting off decades of revolving lineups centered around Iris and stalwart keyboardist Avsec.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2026
  • But the wool industry that had once sustained the ranchers was in decline, in part because of overgrazing, and the countryside was emptying of young people, who were setting off for more populated areas.
    — Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of setting off
Verb
  • When showing a complex picture with many different hues next to each other, though, pumping up the output of individual LED colors can cause the edges of those hues to tint and warp.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Several stock indexes, including the NASDAQ 100, also relaxed rules for how soon new issues could be included, further pumping up demand.
    — John Ruwitch, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of pumping up
Verb
  • For this historic election, however, unchecked violent crime, home demolitions, chronic underfunding in their communities, West Bank unrest, and the war in Gaza are all motivating Arab voters.
    — Ilan Ben Zion, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The 41-year-old and 25-year-old NBA stars have a history of training together, and James cited Maxey as one of the main factors motivating him to come to Philly.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of motivating
Verb
  • The piece suggests the ad was aimed less at persuading undecided voters than at energizing the Republican base.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
  • My morning routine isn’t complete without two calming yet energizing cups of green tea.
    — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of energizing
Verb
  • Those cases often centered on devices mistakenly activating or capturing speech that was not intended as a command.
    — MacKenzie Sigalos,Annie Palmer, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Semaglutide mimics its activity by activating GLP-1 receptors in the body.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of activating
Verb
  • The need for businesses, countries, cities and even individuals to be more resilient in the face of the quickening pace and increasing severity of climate disasters.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The media, encouraged by negotiators themselves, often reinforces this view, noting that talks are progressing, referring to their quickening pace or intensifying efforts and the anticipation of further meetings.
    — John R. Bolton, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of quickening
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

keying
keying (up)
keynote
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Cite this Entry

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

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