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
City officials say the sirens were activated inadvertently and assured that there is no tornado warning currently in effect for Denver.
—
Christa Swanson, CBS News, 8 June 2026
Unlike helper T cells, which activate other immune cells to clear an infection, killer T cells destroy infected cells.
—Smita S. Iyer, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
On match days, the FBI will activate joint operations centers in each host city, bringing together local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to monitor and investigate threats.
—Jake Offenhartz, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026
Stewart returned from shoulder surgery last fall and was activated in early May.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for activate
Christa Swanson, CBS News, 8 June 2026
Unlike helper T cells, which activate other immune cells to clear an infection, killer T cells destroy infected cells.
—Smita S. Iyer, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
On match days, the FBI will activate joint operations centers in each host city, bringing together local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to monitor and investigate threats.
—Jake Offenhartz, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026
Stewart returned from shoulder surgery last fall and was activated in early May.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for activate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activate
Verb
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In 1984, following Operation Blue Star, the assassination of India's prime minister by her Sikh bodyguard triggered horrific mob violence that killed thousands of Sikhs across the country, pushing many more to flee.—
Akash Pamarthy,
NPR,
6 June 2026
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Stopping diabetes medications can trigger hyperglycemic crises like diabetic ketoacidosis which can require ER visits and sometimes hospitalization.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Backup catcher Sebastián Rivero sparked the Angels’ second-inning rally with a one-out single.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
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The video and the SCE data offer proof that the 100-year-old line, which hadn’t been used since the early 1970s, became re-electrified and sparked the fire that killed 19 people and destroyed thousands of homes in Altadena and surrounding areas, attorneys say.—
Tony Saavedra,
Daily News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Ties have cooled in recent years between the two sides – while Pyongyang drove closer to Moscow.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
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Advocates have long criticized the conditions at the Aurora facility, and those complaints — alongside concerns that more facilities could open in the state — helped drive HB 1276’s contents.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Every acre-foot of water requires enough electricity to power a typical home for several months, so higher electricity costs in California raise the price substantially even before accounting for costs related to land, permitting, and labor.—
Sara Sutherland,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
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Fortunately, so many of the minerals needed to power our economy, strengthen our national security and rebuild our industrial capacity are right beneath our feet.—
Rich Nolan,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Carolina generated a ton of shots from around the Vegas net and scored all four of its goals from right in front.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
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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,
10 June 2026
Verb
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That stands in contrast to the Nasdaq, which has already moved to fast-track SpaceX's inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 index, leading to concerns that new retail investors could become the cash cow of exit liquidity for legacy SpaceX shareholders.—
Katie Foley,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
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In the production, directed by Jo Bonney, Susanna arrives there before realizing what has happened, a scene change that moves briskly enough to surprise you in the audience too.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
5 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Activate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activate. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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