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
Just bet $5 on any market to activate the $150 offer, or use the $1,000 safety net for your first wager with bet365.
—
Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
That awareness gives you a chance to prepare and activate humility consciously.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Lee-Vogt said the entertainment zone designation could be activated for the Rainbow Festival in August, at 20th and K Streets, or for the Terra Madre Americas festival near the convention center in September.
—Annika Merrilees, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2025
More than 200 water spray features and water playgrounds will also be fully activated across the city by this weekend.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for activate
Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
That awareness gives you a chance to prepare and activate humility consciously.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Lee-Vogt said the entertainment zone designation could be activated for the Rainbow Festival in August, at 20th and K Streets, or for the Terra Madre Americas festival near the convention center in September.
—Annika Merrilees, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2025
More than 200 water spray features and water playgrounds will also be fully activated across the city by this weekend.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for activate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activate
Verb
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At high levels, free radicals trigger what’s known as oxidative stress, which can damage cell DNA and increase your risk of conditions like heart disease and diabetes.78 4.—
Cynthia Sass,
Health,
23 June 2025
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With many key military figures already killed in Israeli airstrikes and Iran's nuclear and logistical infrastructure under attack, any power vacuum could trigger instability or factional conflict.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
Verb
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But so many conversations have been sparked on this topic, conversations that before the movie was out, noone could have.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
27 June 2025
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Judges have issued dozens of nationwide injunctions in lawsuits that have been brought over Trump administration policies in the months since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, sparking the ire of the president and his allies as much of his agenda has been blocked in court.—
Alison Durkee,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Verb
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This economic activity drives growth in industries from retail and automotive to housing and hospitality.—
Ana Valdez,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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What steps to follow when driving in the rain? Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
1 July 2025
Verb
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It’s finished in Bianco white over a Rosso red leather interior and powered by a 2.4-liter V-6 mated to a five-speed manual that makes just under 200 hp.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
24 June 2025
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From the Arsenal of Democracy in World War II to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s internet and NASA’s Apollo moonshot, many of America’s greatest achievements were powered not by isolated breakthroughs, but by integrated ecosystems aligned around clear national objectives.—
Toni Townes-Whitley,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Google signed a deal to buy power generated through nuclear fusion, only the second such agreement to use the as-yet-unviable technology.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
1 July 2025
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The group allegedly used the identities of more than 60 individuals who lived in the U.S. to generate nearly $7 million for the North Korean government from more than 300 U.S. companies.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 July 2025
Verb
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Wales have done well under Wilkinson to move away from a hardened reputation as being Fishlock’s team and become more of a sum of their parts.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
27 June 2025
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Employees are held to high speed standards, with some scanning up to 1,200 items an hour to keep lines moving.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Activate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activate. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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