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
The move includes activating all eight CHP Special Response Teams and placing the agency’s Southern Division in Los Angeles on tactical alert.
—
Sacbee.com, 15 June 2025
Tuesday is likely to be a bullpen game with right-hander Emmet Sheehan activated from the injured list and making his return from Tommy John surgery on Wednesday.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 15 June 2025
Iran might activate some sleeper cells against Americans.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Barring any setbacks the hope now is he’ll be activated ahead of next weekend’s series against the Giants, which begins on Friday, June 20.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for activate
Sacbee.com, 15 June 2025
Tuesday is likely to be a bullpen game with right-hander Emmet Sheehan activated from the injured list and making his return from Tommy John surgery on Wednesday.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 15 June 2025
Iran might activate some sleeper cells against Americans.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Barring any setbacks the hope now is he’ll be activated ahead of next weekend’s series against the Giants, which begins on Friday, June 20.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for activate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activate
Verb
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Resource and organizational constraints are triggering strategic realignments.—
Timothy J. McClimon,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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With many key military figures already killed in Israeli airstrikes and Iran's nuclear and logistical infrastructure under attack, any power vacuum could trigger instability or factional conflict.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
Verb
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What originally sparked my interest was just drawing some patterns, making some artworks, and eventually that's transformed into a full collection.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
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The 20-month war with Hamas has raged on even as Israel has opened a new front with heavy strikes on Iran that sparked retaliatory drone and missile attacks.—
WAFAA SHURAFA,
Arkansas Online,
15 June 2025
Verb
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One lectured me once, another taught me how to drive, another changed my tire, and so on.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
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Blood drives at credit union The San Diego County Credit Union and the San Diego Blood Bank will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 30 at four locations in the county.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 June 2025
Verb
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Google Cloud plays a massive role in powering the web.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
12 June 2025
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This freshly re-imagined Jag is worlds apart from that old German brute, but was similar in the sense of feeling wonderfully light and responsive, and utilizing hydraulic fluid to power its steering.—
Peter Nelson,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
Verb
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Affected vehicles generate a warning when the brake pedal is not working properly.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
19 June 2025
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Hartford Courant This course each year generates discussion on its degree of difficulty.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
19 June 2025
Verb
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As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
14 June 2025
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Some of its missiles have a range of more than 300 miles and can strike a moving ship.—
Tom Vanden Brook,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Activate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activate. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.
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