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
Relevance
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
Ellipticals also help build strength in the legs by activating the glutes (muscles in the buttocks), quads, hamstrings, and calf muscles.
—
Tim Petrie, Dpt, Verywell Health, 18 Mar. 2025
The devices typically are attached to poles in the sidewalk at street corners and emit a locator tone, with a button to activate them.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Keep your headlights on and activate emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.
—Southern California Weather Report, Orange County Register, 13 Mar. 2025
Carsley said during his spell as interim coach that White still had his ‘do not disturb’ status activated after Southgate’s departure last summer.
—Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for activate
Tim Petrie, Dpt, Verywell Health, 18 Mar. 2025
The devices typically are attached to poles in the sidewalk at street corners and emit a locator tone, with a button to activate them.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Keep your headlights on and activate emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.
—Southern California Weather Report, Orange County Register, 13 Mar. 2025
Carsley said during his spell as interim coach that White still had his ‘do not disturb’ status activated after Southgate’s departure last summer.
—Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for activate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activate
Verb
-
Even though his record remains unbroken, problems with the Boeing Starliner that carried Wilmore and Williams to space triggered extensive coverage in the United States that far exceeded the coverage of Rubio's even longer mission.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2025
-
As the cycle proceeds toward the inevitable breakup—triggered, perhaps, by Lesbia’s dalliances during the year that Catullus was away working for Memmius—the poems of recrimination and spite, often eye-poppingly obscene, predominate.—
Daniel Mendelsohn,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Another 1,671 firms reached $2.5 to $4.9 million, up from 506 in 2021. Transportation and warehousing: With the e-commerce explosion sparking demand for last-mile transportation and warehousing, solopreneurs in this space profited.—
Elaine Pofeldt,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Schumer’s move has sparked outrage from some Democrats and progressive activists who protested at his office and called on him to resign his position.—
Will Weissert,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Ultimately, the league’s decision-making on NBA expansion will be driven by a combination of market size, media presence, economic factors, and ownership interest.—
Giovanni Malloy,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
With Frank Zappa and the Beatles blasting from the speakers, Kwong would drive his trusty Volvo wagon up U.S. Highway 395.—
Rachel Ng,
Smithsonian Magazine,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Interchange reconnection between the filament and the surrounding open magnetic field lines releases the energy that powers a CME, the resulting ejection being a powerful jet that bursts through the solar corona and into space, dragging plasma with it to form the CME.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Meta Chief Product Officer Chris Cox, to whom Pineau reported to, said in March that Llama 4 will help power AI agents, the latest craze in generative AI.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Beyond social media, Logan is the founder of a merchandise company called Maverick Apparel that’s proven to be pretty successful, generating $40 million in just its first nine months, per Celebrity Net Worth.—
Jenzia Burgos,
StyleCaster,
27 Mar. 2025
-
One way to do that is off the rush when teams aren’t as set defensively, but the Canucks are one of the worst teams in the league at transition offence, so this is a tough environment to generate those types of looks at a high volume.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Eventually any discourse about his low batting average and moving him in the lineup evaporated as Judge finished with a .322 average, 58 homers and 144 RBIS, barely missing out on matching Mickey Mantle in the Triple Crown department.—
Larry Fleisher,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
He was appointed to the position in 2024 after longtime trustee Dan Bobrowski moved from the area and left the board.—
Jesse Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Activate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activate. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share