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
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Recent Examples of activate
Faced with this challenge, a healthy cell will use its chemical energy to activate pumps to push sodium back out and restore its normal voltage.
—
Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
The Patriots could potentially fill that spot by activating cornerback Alex Austin or running back Terrell Jennings from injured reserve.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Speeding violation - Officer drove 88 mph in a 35-mph zone with no lights or siren activated.
—Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 12 Jan. 2026
Engine 1-3 was parked on Jackson Road, with emergency lights activated, while the crews were checking on those involved in the initial crash.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for activate
Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
The Patriots could potentially fill that spot by activating cornerback Alex Austin or running back Terrell Jennings from injured reserve.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Speeding violation - Officer drove 88 mph in a 35-mph zone with no lights or siren activated.
—Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 12 Jan. 2026
Engine 1-3 was parked on Jackson Road, with emergency lights activated, while the crews were checking on those involved in the initial crash.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for activate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activate
Verb
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She was released and showed back up over an hour later, triggering another scuffle.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Jan. 2026
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Routine recommendations trigger automatic prompts in medical records and enable nurses to vaccinate under standing orders.—
Jake Scott,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The incident sparked national outcry, as numerous videos circulated online showing multiple angles of the shooting, including the bodycam point of view of the officer who shot Good.—
Andrew Adeolu,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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The shootings in Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon, have sparked fierce debates across the nation.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That calculus reflects a broader shift in tennis sponsorships, as the balance of power moves toward smaller brands willing to invest in product, personalization, and year-round storytelling — and away from legacy deals driven primarily by logo visibility.—
Jessica Schiffer,
Vogue,
14 Jan. 2026
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Emilio’s father then drove around the area to find his son, but was unsuccessful, per the database.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Walmart’s 400 kW chargers can power two EVs at once.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
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Lucid Group, Nuro, and Uber have unveiled the production-intent robotaxi that will power their upcoming global autonomous ride-hailing service.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This article was generated by the Bay Area Home Report Bot, software that analyzes home sales or other data and creates an article based on a template created by humans.—
Bay Area Home Report,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Solar built into the body When deployed across multiple exterior surfaces, the system can generate meaningful power.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Enrollment Though still growing overall, state economists reported in early January that K-12 enrollment numbers were nearly 42,500 lower than predicted, with signs of continuing downward trends moving forward.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
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Researchers at the University of Manchester, led by Professor Thomas Anthopoulos, have successfully stabilized perovskite solar cells, which could help move the low-cost technology into the global mass market.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Activate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activate. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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