activate

verb

ˈak-tə-ˌvāt How to pronounce activate (audio)
Definition of activatenext
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

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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 Take the first steps toward it while the Aries moon activates Mars. — Usa Today, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026 Evoking the same do-it-yourself pop-rock feminism of her ’90s musical influences, Olivia Rodrigo raised $20 million for women’s well-being with a benefit show that activated her young audience. — James Pollard, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026 In a person who has developed opioid dependence, the drug can activate enough mu receptors to suppress withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 An automatic gate that could only be activated by a car prevented them from leaving, until Neal Kezar, the owner of the facility, realized what was happening and opened it remotely for her, per KRIS-TV. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for activate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activate
  1. trigger
  2. spark
  3. drive
  4. power
  5. generate
  6. move
Verb
  • Near-death experiences are frequently triggered by a life-threatening event, such as cardiac arrest, traumatic brain injury or a car accident.
    — Michael Collins, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
  • This triggered a realignment within the gaming industry, and put them at odds with Nevada regulators, too.
    — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of trigger
Verb
  • Early on Thursday morning technical researcher Eric Lu sparked worldwide excitement and confusion by posting a sequence of 130 digits on X (formerly Twitter).
    — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The pulling of two men alive from a hydropower tunnel deep inside the Nepal Himalaya nine days after the disaster has sparked hope in Nepal.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of spark
Verb
  • Bonnell also uses a belt drive as standard equipment for quieter, lower-maintenance operation, with an optional 520 chain conversion available for riders who prefer a more traditional setup.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Ronaldinho drove Madonna onto the field at half-time of the World Cup final in a weird little buggy thing.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of drive
Verb
  • Roman then opened its array of solar panels and sunshades, which power the craft and keep its sensitive instruments cool.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The tiny chargers that power our phones have a secret weapon known as gallium nitride (GaN).
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of power
Verb
  • On Location, which sells premium packages at high-profile events like the FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl and the US Open, helped generate $666 million in revenue for the first six months of this year — a 60% increase compared to the year prior.
    — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The results showed that the deformation became stronger toward the section of the ceiling directly beneath the roadside above the shaft, similar to how modern LiDAR systems can generate detailed three-dimensional measurements.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of generate
Verb
  • The Minot operation took that work a step further by moving an entire system for refurbishment.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Over the course of Exile, TV Rain’s studios as well as its various employees will be forced to move countries multiple times, everybody’s life and career atomized across the globe.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of move

Browse Nearby Words

actions
activate
activated
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Cite this Entry

“Activate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activate. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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