cranking (up)

verb

present participle of crank (up)
as in triggering
to cause to function crank up the CD player so we can dance

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cranking (up)
  1. triggering
  2. activating
  3. sparking
  4. driving
  5. setting off
  6. turning on
  7. touching off
Verb
  • Pandemic closures slashed membership by 55%, triggering a $40 million revenue collapse in 2020 that forced leadership to freeze hiring, defer capital projects, draw on reserves and adjust lender terms.
    — Chase Jordan October 14, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The store owner was in Israel at the time, triggering a yearslong extradition process.
    — Monika Evstatieva, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of triggering
Verb
  • Semaglutide mimics its activity by activating GLP-1 receptors in the body.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The protease partially pulls a proton off the water molecule, activating it to attack and break up the peptide bond.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of activating
Verb
  • The unrest comes on the eve of Art Basel Paris this week, sparking concerns about the impact this may have on the fair and a packed week of art events throughout the city.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • By the turn of the millennium, tastemakers like David Beckham, Jay-Z, and Beyoncé were flaunting Evisu, sparking a wave of interest in Japanese brands that continues to the present day.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of sparking
Verb
  • Biggs has accused the Hobbs administration of driving up home prices with stringent water requirements that stalled new buildings in parts of the Phoenix area.
    — Hannah Knowles The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • No amount of spending from whatever PAC source is driving it into the elections are going to change that dynamic.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of driving
Verb
  • 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
  • There are the now-traditional scenes in which Carrie learns to consciously control her telekinetic superpowers, previously manifested by accidentally setting off car alarms, opening mailboxes and causing a rain of rocks on her parents’ roof.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of setting off
Verb
  • But Salazar, who, amazingly, is also a Cuban American former news anchor, is now reckoning with her district increasingly turning on the President amid economic pressure and an immigration crackdown that is extremely unpopular among Latinos.
    — Daniel Castro, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Virginia, your story uses dark humor to manipulate readers into sympathizing with Winifred before turning on them.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of turning on
Verb
  • The university prepared to wash its hands of this important part of its legacy, touching off a furious backlash.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
  • With two minutes left in the period, Parayko ran Yurov into the boards from behind, touching off a fight between the Blues’ defenseman and Trenin.
    — Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of touching off
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

cranking out
cranking (up)
crankish
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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