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 Christensen can now be activated off IR and onto the 53-man roster at any time. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 2 Nov. 2026 Colorado Task Force 1 was activated Monday morning to respond to historic flooding across southern and southwestern Colorado. — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026 The city declared a state of emergency on Monday, activating a command post and deploying emergency services throughout the week. — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026 Police said officers did not activate emergency lights or initiate a pursuit at this time. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 Oct. 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
  • The clip physically holds these components in place, preventing the movement that could trigger an unintended detonation.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Whatever the source, the deluge of news can cause acute stress and anger, triggering a fight-or-flight response.
    — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of trigger
Verb
  • The spot sparked national bipartisan backlash on grounds that Acton's mother had lost custody of her children decades ago after her husband, their stepfather, was indicted for raping Acton as a child.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Grant sparked a 16-1 in the first quarter that broke the game open after the Golden Eagles cut TCU’s lead to 9-8.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of spark
Verb
  • Guzman has an April 2009 conviction of driving drunk and causing injury to another person in Sacramento County, according to the complaint.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The pre-Election Day surge was driven mainly by in-person voting.
    — Miles Parks, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of drive
Verb
  • Beehive Industries has successfully tested a compact jet engine designed to power smaller US military drones and munitions.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Nine of them will power the first stage, and the second stage will fly a single Clydesdale.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of power
Verb
  • The cyclists cross the state, generating an economic impact estimated at $25 million.
    — Washington Post, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In tests by cybersecurity firm McAfee, a three-second clip was enough to generate a clone with an 85% match to the original speaker.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of generate
Verb
  • Those offseason moves, combined with the injuries, have withered the depth that had allowed Presti to be patient in trade negotiations during previous seasons, without feeling a need to make splashy midseason acquisitions.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2026
  • But Florida has decisively moved beyond an educational system dominated by a single operator — the school district — and toward a new construct where multiple operators provide choices for families.
    — Thibaut Delloue, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 2026.

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