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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of activate
How Magnesium Glycinate Supports Your Sleep Cycle Magnesium activates GABA receptors, slowing brain activity and promoting relaxation.
—
Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
Adam, who had quad tendon surgery in September, is expected to be activated this week — either here Wednesday or Thursday at home.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
The Biological Mechanism Behind the Hype Magnesium activates GABA receptors, which slow brain activity and promote relaxation.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
The device looks like a regular phone at first glance, but a quick swipe activates the motor, which unfurls additional screen real estate from around the back.
—ArsTechnica, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for activate
Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
Adam, who had quad tendon surgery in September, is expected to be activated this week — either here Wednesday or Thursday at home.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
The Biological Mechanism Behind the Hype Magnesium activates GABA receptors, which slow brain activity and promote relaxation.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
The device looks like a regular phone at first glance, but a quick swipe activates the motor, which unfurls additional screen real estate from around the back.
—ArsTechnica, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for activate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activate
Verb
-
The district is projected to run out of cash in September, which would trigger a state takeover.—
Scott Lebar. Story produced with AI assistance,
Sacbee.com,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The images of that crash were shared widely online and caught Noah Williams' attention, triggering painful memories and taking him back to the day his own life changed forever.—
Karen Morfitt,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At 5 foot 9, 191 pounds, his 586 touches over the past two seasons do spark the question of how long the smaller-bodied Achane can last taking on such a heavy workload.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Three assailants opened fire at police outside a building housing the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday, sparking a gunfight that left one attacker dead, Turkish officials said.—
Suzan Fraser,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Zuckerman is among tens of thousands of patients who drove an explosive demand for prescriptions for Novo’s pill just three months into its launch.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Calls to temporarily pause gas taxes have gained traction in recent days as prices at the pump climb dramatically, largely driven by supply disruptions resulting from the war in Iran.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One gigawatt can power about 320,000 Chinese households for a year.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The battery is strong enough to power through a typical day of casual photography without having to worry about charging.—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The National Weather Service says strong winds could generate breaking waves of 8 feet causing dune erosion and road overwash.—
Mark Price
April 8,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Two of his 12 fastballs generated at least 26 inches of induced vertical break, something no pitcher had accomplished in a major-league game since the Baltimore Orioles’ Félix Bautista did it in 2023.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Prisoners have been moved because of staffing, food, and capacity shortages at the facilities where they were being held.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The rain will start to clear out Sunday evening as the front moves through and begins to usher in drier, but cooler temperatures for next week.—
Bill Kelly,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Activate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activate. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
