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
The Moon in Sagittarius activates your 3rd House of Communication, encouraging direct expression and clearer exchanges.
—
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
This activates systems in your body that control your stress levels and your hormones.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 4 May 2026
The order activates, for the first time, a private right of action.
—Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 4 May 2026
As the Moon moves into Sagittarius and activates your 9th House of Perspective, your focus turns toward growth, movement, and bigger possibilities that feel worth pursuing.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Orange County Public Schools has had a similar tax, approved by voters several times, in place for 16 years, helping that district pay for expenses, like salaries and extra-curricular activates for students, not fully covered by state funding.
—James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
Once repair is complete, growth hormone activates a brainstem region called the locus coeruleus, which gently nudges you toward waking.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
Dreaming big is par for the course when Mercury activates Jupiter.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
This reusable device is equipped with a rechargeable battery and an easy-to-use top ring that activates the alarm and 120 minutes of continuous strobe light and sound.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2026
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
This activates systems in your body that control your stress levels and your hormones.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 4 May 2026
The order activates, for the first time, a private right of action.
—Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 4 May 2026
As the Moon moves into Sagittarius and activates your 9th House of Perspective, your focus turns toward growth, movement, and bigger possibilities that feel worth pursuing.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Orange County Public Schools has had a similar tax, approved by voters several times, in place for 16 years, helping that district pay for expenses, like salaries and extra-curricular activates for students, not fully covered by state funding.
—James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
Once repair is complete, growth hormone activates a brainstem region called the locus coeruleus, which gently nudges you toward waking.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
Dreaming big is par for the course when Mercury activates Jupiter.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
This reusable device is equipped with a rechargeable battery and an easy-to-use top ring that activates the alarm and 120 minutes of continuous strobe light and sound.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activates
Verb
-
That level of accuracy is what triggers panic and lowers your guard.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
-
The test cases—meaning the HTML or other code that triggers an unsafe memory condition—are provided in each one and meet the same criteria Mozilla requires for all bugs to be considered security vulnerabilities in Firefox.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Born blind and yearning for connection, his obsession sparks a subculture that helps shape the future of hacking and technology.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
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Benjamin Franklin linked sparks in the lab with lightning in the sky in his famous kite-flying experiment in 1752.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
So does her husband who drives a van for people with disabilities.—
Tovia Smith,
NPR,
7 May 2026
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As with all the company’s apparel and merchandise purchases, a portion of the proceeds supports the Guy Harvey Foundation, which funds scientific research, advances education and drives advocacy to protect marine ecosystems.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The next step is urgent implementation so this policy creates meaningful change, expands homeownership, generates city revenue, helps schools struggling with enrollment and meets housing needs without harming existing residents.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
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These liquids are pumped into a central unit, where a chemical reaction generates electricity.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Activates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activates. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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