as in triggers
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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Recent Examples of activates
When the steering wheel is retracted, the vehicle activates a passenger airbag integrated into the instrument panel.
—
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
Beginning with a spark early in the year, as a solar eclipse in Aquarius activates your romantic and creative side, don’t be surprised if love feels playful again, as this new beginning encourages flirtation, spontaneity and intellectual expression.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Your 11th House of Friendship activates as Venus, planet of beauty, meets Mars, encouraging you to rally allies and rebuild a sense of shared purpose.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
The moody Moon activates your 8th House of Intimacy today, focusing your instincts on the topics that matter.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
By the weekend, the Libra Moon activates your relationship sector, shifting the focus to connection.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 4 Jan. 2026
The case magnetically attaches to the back and front of the Gen II and activates sleep/wake functions when the cover is opened and closed.
—PC Magazine, 7 Nov. 2025
Sign-Up Bonus Remember, every new customer who activates this offer will receive a $10 initial bonus.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Research shows eye contact is key to satisfying social interactions and activates social parts of the brain.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
Beginning with a spark early in the year, as a solar eclipse in Aquarius activates your romantic and creative side, don’t be surprised if love feels playful again, as this new beginning encourages flirtation, spontaneity and intellectual expression.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Your 11th House of Friendship activates as Venus, planet of beauty, meets Mars, encouraging you to rally allies and rebuild a sense of shared purpose.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
The moody Moon activates your 8th House of Intimacy today, focusing your instincts on the topics that matter.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
By the weekend, the Libra Moon activates your relationship sector, shifting the focus to connection.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 4 Jan. 2026
The case magnetically attaches to the back and front of the Gen II and activates sleep/wake functions when the cover is opened and closed.
—PC Magazine, 7 Nov. 2025
Sign-Up Bonus Remember, every new customer who activates this offer will receive a $10 initial bonus.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Research shows eye contact is key to satisfying social interactions and activates social parts of the brain.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activates
Verb
-
If a situation escalates, pressing and holding the SOS button triggers a full safety sequence.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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The big risk as things stand is that an adversary misreads his mixed signals, oversteps, and triggers an escalation nobody wants.—
Comfort Ero,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While details of Gatwa’s character are not yet known, Erivo’s Jayne is described as a trailblazing fairy whose defiant streak sparks a rebellion.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Quinten Post scored 14 points and Pat Spencer put in 10 with four assists as fellow sparks off the bench.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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When the temperature drops below 32 degrees and a glowing snowflake on the dashboard warns of icy roads, my car practically drives itself to Lighthouse Tofu in Annandale.—
Elazar Sontag,
Washington Post,
10 Jan. 2026
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Those near misses helped extend Ole Miss drives at times.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Legal sports betting generates a considerable amount of tax revenue.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
7 Nov. 2025
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Switching to some business talk for a moment, Lazenby confirmed what other executives were buzzing about — that the center generates approximately $4,000 in sales per square foot, to an extent buoyed by strong high and fine jewelry sales.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Activates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activates. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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