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 The officer reported looking west and at one point and seeing traffic officers with their emergency lights activated and beyond them, runners directly in Wade’s path, according to court documents. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026 The patrol vehicle’s emergency lights and sirens were activated, and the officers tried to pull over the Nissan near 44th Street and 14th Avenue. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Duck began practicing on a limited basis 21 days ago; with players on PUP, teams have 21 days to decide whether to activate them, release them, or keep them on PUP for the remainder of the season. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026 Urban Architecture Festival, a public program leveraging architecture to activate public spaces and encourage conversations on sustainability and culture in the cities. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 19 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 proposal would give frontier AI developers a clearer legal framework while restricting the circumstances that could trigger government action.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Wilson, whose comments helped trigger the confrontation, was not a defendant in the lawsuit.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of trigger
Verb
  • The news that Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Hurts has a likely season-ending injury of blood clots has sparked questions about how the condition developed in one of the NFL's top quarterbacks.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • In 2023, a series of regional bank failures sparked concerns that rising interest rates were ushering in a widespread crisis.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of spark
Verb
  • Zuckerberg and Wang want Muse Wonder and the more powerful Muse Wonder Full to drive Muse, Meta’s personal AI agent, which can act on people’s behalf.
    — Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • To help banish the endless procrastination, National Geographic’s 2027 list of 25 must-visit destinations for the year ahead is one of its most timely and experience-driven recommendations yet.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of drive
Verb
  • Four turboprop engines power the aircraft, giving it the performance needed for demanding military transport operations.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Where to build, what to manufacture, how to source materials, which technologies to invest in and how to power an operation can all carry meaning well beyond the original business rationale.
    — Amanda Simonian, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of power
Verb
  • The ability for anyone to generate strategy, code, or creative work in seconds effectively filled in the moats built on blitzscaling overnight.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Its streaming app hosts short-form true crime audio and video shows that are fully AI-generated.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of generate
Verb
  • Components can move from machining to assembly on the same day or the following day, enabling teams to test design changes on physical hardware sooner.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
  • However, the higher PPI is pointing to an economy that is gradually moving away from deflationary pressures even if the recovery remains uneven, said Hao Zhou, chief economist at Guotai Junan International Holdings.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 14 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 21 Oct. 2026.

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