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 mechanism is activated when the Kospi 200 futures index gains 5% or more for at least one minute. — Sean Conlon,hugh Leask,lee Ying Shan,ananya Chetia, CNBC, 9 Nov. 2026 Staying up late can increase exposure to artificial light, which may activate the body’s stress response and affect hormones that regulate hunger. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026 It can be customized via the Settings app for a cornucopia of use cases, including activating Silent Mode, Focus, Flashlight, Magnifier, Translate, and even third-party apps like the music ID tool Shazam. — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 7 Nov. 2026 Gamma is also a frequency that is ideally suited for activating inhibitory neurons, which scientists believe are dysfunctional in Alzheimer’s and play a major role in balancing the amount of activity in neural circuits. — Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 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 intense heat triggers a rapid reaction in which carbon bonds with silica to form silicon carbide, a ultra-hard, heat-tolerant compound.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Four days later, she was reported missing, triggering an intense search by locals, the police department and the FBI.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 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
  • This provides the free electrons to power the EV’s motors and systems during operation.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Limp said the company will continue to manufacture the existing BE-4 engine for United Launch Alliance, which uses two of the engines to power its Vulcan rocket.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of power
Verb
  • The county hopes to generate tourism and diving revenue from the ship turned reef.
    — Todd C. Frankel, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The agreement with Kyoto Fusioneering will expand existing work on next-generation gyrotrons — devices that generate high-power microwaves used to heat the plasma.
    — Ian King, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of generate
Verb
  • Their shared ambition is straightforward, which is to move fusion from experimental physics rigs into commercially viable power plants.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Kerhonkson was also within easy reach of her sister, who had moved with her family from the East Village to Millbrook, in Dutchess County, in 2024.
    — Heather Senison, New York Times, 5 Nov. 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 11 Nov. 2026.

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