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
Relevance
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
The governor also announced several security measures, including activating Texas Military Department service members under Operation Fury Shield to work with state and federal partners to protect critical infrastructure.
—
Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026
Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which automatically activate your taillights.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2026
The aim is to activate during the month toward a future that is healthier for people and the planet.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
Air raid alerts were activated across parts of the country as Iran launched missile barrages in response.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for activate
Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026
Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which automatically activate your taillights.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2026
The aim is to activate during the month toward a future that is healthier for people and the planet.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
Air raid alerts were activated across parts of the country as Iran launched missile barrages in response.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for activate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activate
Verb
-
The chain of events triggered by the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel by Hamas shattered the image of Iran as an impenetrable and defiant regional power.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Howell’s resignation came amid scrutiny triggered not only by the FBI’s investigation into financial misconduct involving OneTeam Partners — the licensing entity co-owned by the NFLPA and MLBPA — but also by concerns over a conflict of interest.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has created a power vacuum in the regime, sparking a complex process of finding a successor.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The company suffered alongside a cohort of cybersecurity stocks after Anthropic unveiled a security tool for its Claude model, sparking concerns that AI could upend the sector's business model.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Light drives the leap The team initially expected the robot to jump only a handful of times under continuous illumination.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
-
On the next possession, Nembhard drove past Jones again and found himself in the paint.—
Mike Curtis,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
With a global sensibility, reach, and reporting hubs now spanning from Washington DC, Silicon Valley, Wall Street to sub-Saharan Africa and the Gulf, Semafor’s journalists around the world power its suite of daily first-read email briefings and signature live journalism convenings.—
Rachel Keidan,
semafor.com,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The new chip, called the Snapdragon Wear Elite, was designed with new products like pins and pendants in mind but will also power smartwatches.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Explore the latest lottery news & results This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Courier Journal digital producer.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) recently reported that the project’s roadmap includes a major 2030 orbital test capable of generating a full megawatt of power.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In response to a market-moving piece of dystopian fan fiction fearmongering about AI, Citadel Securities put out its own brief on the historical precedent for AI’s impact and the improbability that the technology will render humans unemployable any more than the typewriter or the internet did.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
-
But the most ambitious combinations of food and vantage are reserved for lunches, which move daily to points along treks – the rim of a remote lake, a terrace in a quaint village house by the river, or a rooftop with panoramic views in the village of Zhong.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Activate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activate. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
