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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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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By triggering the release of a natural growth factor in the brain and modulating neural pathways associated with addiction and reward, ibogaine restores healthy dopamine function and reduces cravings, Barsuglia said.
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Vibrations from earth-moving equipment could have triggered further collapses, possibly dooming Gil — and his would-be rescuers.
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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Housed in a 39mm yellow gold case, each watch is powered by Corum’s CO082 automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve.
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The connection with Quinones continues to power the Mexican attack.
Verb
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This horoscope was generated automatically using information from Sanctuary.
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This year’s celebration comes on the heels of a late June warehouse fire in Boyle Heights that released extraordinary amounts of soot and smoke across the county, on par with pollution generated by the previous year’s wildfires.
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 7 Jul. 2026.
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