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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of activate
When the predator is close at hand, our body activates a set of automatic responses.
—
Literary Hub,
30 June 2026
In Bridgeport, officials are activating the cooling center protocol from Wednesday through Friday.
—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2026
Five to 10 slow belly breaths activate what researchers call the thoraco-abdominal pump.
—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
29 June 2026
The cameras are programmed to activate when a vehicle enters an intersection above a preset speed threshold while the light is red.
—
Sofia Baltodano
june 29,
Miami Herald,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for activate
Literary Hub,
30 June 2026
In Bridgeport, officials are activating the cooling center protocol from Wednesday through Friday.
—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2026
Five to 10 slow belly breaths activate what researchers call the thoraco-abdominal pump.
—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
29 June 2026
The cameras are programmed to activate when a vehicle enters an intersection above a preset speed threshold while the light is red.
—
Sofia Baltodano
june 29,
Miami Herald,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for activate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activate
Verb
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Attorney Al Watkins, who represented the McCloskeys during the early stages of the controversy, said one of the biggest misconceptions about the case is what triggered the confrontation in the first place.
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The satellite's primary objective, though, is to observe gamma-ray bursts – events triggered by the catastrophic deaths of massive stars and considered to be the most powerful types of explosions in the universe.
Verb
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Whereas the federal incentive may have been enough to spark interest in a range of buyers, Moody said the lesser amount will probably appeal mainly to people who already have their eye on an EV.
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And a red card against an American soccer star sparks debate.
Verb
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The abnormal heat has been driven by the onset of El Niño, a natural climate pattern characterized by unusually warm waters along the equatorial tropical Pacific Ocean.
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Congestion is difficult to predict, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, when driving behavior shifted and peak traffic hours spread out instead of sticking to the more uniform 9-to-5 workday.
Verb
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That hardware, in turn, provides the foundation to power next-generation artificial intelligence models.
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The solar array does not power the building directly but provides power into the city power grid.
Verb
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Under his leadership, SMUD expanded workforce training programs, and joined the state’s Energy Imbalance Market, a wholesale energy-trading market that allows SMUD to buy low-cost renewable energy in real time, and sell excess energy to generate additional revenue.
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Prosecutors allege Mareik helped facilitate fraudulent prescriptions that generated nearly $270 million in claims to Medi-Cal, which ultimately paid out more than $178 million.
Verb
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To keep up with the fast-moving aerial acts, the app features an adjustable countdown timer set to the official schedule.
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If anyone shows signs of heat illness, promptly move them to a cool, shaded area.
Cite this Entry
“Activate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activate. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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