as in to trigger
to cause to function
the thermostat is set to activate the heating system only when the temperature drops below 65 degrees
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of activate
Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
—
Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 22 June 2026
In December 2023, Tesla recalled more than 2 million cars after regulators said the company hadn’t done enough to ensure that drivers were paying attention when Autopilot is activated.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 22 June 2026
Some providers have waiting periods of 30 to 90 days after purchase before coverage activates.
—Emily Mercer, USA Today, 22 June 2026
These walls, activated by shooting a switch, permanently block pathways for the remainder of the round, dynamically altering gameplay.
—Mike Stubbs, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for activate
Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 22 June 2026
In December 2023, Tesla recalled more than 2 million cars after regulators said the company hadn’t done enough to ensure that drivers were paying attention when Autopilot is activated.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 22 June 2026
Some providers have waiting periods of 30 to 90 days after purchase before coverage activates.
—Emily Mercer, USA Today, 22 June 2026
These walls, activated by shooting a switch, permanently block pathways for the remainder of the round, dynamically altering gameplay.
—Mike Stubbs, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for activate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activate
Verb
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Still, despite the squad’s positivity, the match triggered a lot of bad memories in the minds of Spain fans everywhere ahead of what many thought could be an excellent chance to earn the nation’s second World Cup.—
Patrick Sung Cuadrado,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
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In February, an exposure at a state high school wrestling championship triggered at least 46 cases among attendees.—
Devi Shastri,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Verb
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For the first time since joining international competition, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has qualified for the FIFA World Cup, marking a milestone achievement for the nation's soccer program and sparking celebrations among Jordanians around the world.—
Loureen Ayyoub,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
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The crash sparked a fire that destroyed the aircraft, which was operating as a skydiving flight, according to the NTSB.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Those moves unfold in the heart of the Pittsburgh Innovation District, where Oakland’s mix of universities, hospitals and startups is driving new construction and intensifying competition for space around campus.—
Gabby Sartori,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
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The shooting took place in Towson Circle as the Majied and the suspect were driving in different cars.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
Verb
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That hardware, in turn, provides the foundation to power next-generation artificial intelligence models.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
22 June 2026
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The solar array does not power the building directly but provides power into the city power grid.—
Chelsea Hylton,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Verb
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Swells generated by the Potential Tropical Cyclone are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the northwestern Gulf Coast for the next couple of days.—
MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
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Stars sell the tickets, drive the story clicks and generate the most interest.—
Nick Friedell,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
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The pair moved to the parking lot, where several others became involved.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
19 June 2026
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The Eastern Pacific remains a key corridor for narcotics trafficking, with criminal organizations frequently using small vessels to move drugs toward North America.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Activate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activate. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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