Actuating device, in particular for actuating a locking device, comprising: - a housing, - a drive element which is mounted in the housing so as to movable in a displacement direction between a first position and a second position, - an output element which is mounted in the housing so as to be movable in the displacement direction between a first position and a second position, - at least one elastic element, wherein the drive element and the output element are pretensioned against one another in the displacement direction by means of the elastic element, - a blocking device for blocking and/or releasing a movement of the output element between its first position and its second position, - wherein the actuating device is designed such that when the drive element and the output element are arranged in their respective first positions (18, 24) and the drive element is moved in the direction of its second position, the movement of the output element is blocked by means of the blocking device until the drive element reaches a first release position which is arranged between the first position and the second position of the drive element, wherein as soon as the drive element reaches the first release position, the blocking device releases the output element so that the output element is moved, in particular suddenly, from its first position to its second position due to a force acting on the output element by means of the elastic element, and/or - wherein the actuating device is designed such that when the drive element and the output element are arranged in their respective second positions (20, 26) and the drive element is moved in the direction of its first position, the movement of the output element is blocked by means of the blocking device until the drive element reaches a second release position which is arranged between the second position and the first position of the drive element, wherein as soon as the drive element reaches the second release position, the blocking device releases the output element so that the output element is moved, in particular suddenly, from its second position to its first position due to a force acting on the output element by means of the elastic element. - a housing, - a drive element which is mounted in the housing so as to movable in a displacement direction between a first position and a second position, - an output element which is mounted in the housing so as to be movable in the displacement direction between a first position and a second position, - at least one elastic element, wherein the drive element and the output element are pretensioned against one another in the displacement direction by means of the elastic element, - a blocking device for blocking and/or releasing a movement of the output element between its first position and its second position, - wherein the actuating device is designed such that when the drive element and the output element are arranged in their respective first positions (18, 24) and the drive element is moved in the direction of its second position, the movement of the output element is blocked by means of the blocking device until the drive element reaches a first release position which is arranged between the first position and the second position of the drive element, wherein as soon as the drive element reaches the first release position, the blocking device releases the output element so that the output element is moved, in particular suddenly, from its first position to its second position due to a force acting on the output element by means of the elastic element, and/or - wherein the actuating device is designed such that when the drive element and the output element are arranged in their respective second positions (20, 26) and the drive element is moved in the direction of its first position, the movement of the output element is blocked by means of the blocking device until the drive element reaches a second release position which is arranged between the second position and the first position of the drive element, wherein as soon as the drive element reaches the second release position, the blocking device releases the output element so that the output element is moved, in particular suddenly, from its second position to its first position due to a force acting on the output element by means of the elastic element.