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
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Recent Examples of activate
If a storm does meet the criteria for an ERP to be activated, the company will then call up out-of-state contractors and linesman, which can be more expensive.
—
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2025
Hudson activates her considerable leading lady charm as Isla.
—EW.com, 27 Feb. 2025
The church, too, was demolished, the priest tasked with activating the detonator.
—Sebastián López Brach, The Dial, 25 Feb. 2025
The referral agent is also voice activated and calls patients to connect them with the right specialists.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for activate
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2025
Hudson activates her considerable leading lady charm as Isla.
—EW.com, 27 Feb. 2025
The church, too, was demolished, the priest tasked with activating the detonator.
—Sebastián López Brach, The Dial, 25 Feb. 2025
The referral agent is also voice activated and calls patients to connect them with the right specialists.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for activate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activate
Verb
-
The latest shift in President Trump’s immigration policy has triggered a humanitarian crisis as more than 1.8 million migrants—including Ukrainians, Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans—face imminent deportation.—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
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The death of San Diego civic legend Leon Williams at age 102 triggered outpourings of appreciation and admiration for the groundbreaking Black community leader.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This growing dependence has sparked frustration among Putin's allies, who have lamented Russia's reliance on the world's second-largest economy.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
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While Birdman has yet to address the incident, the clip has sparked concern among fans, with many speculating the cause of his unusual behavior.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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They were pulled over by task force members for speeding along I-95 and found to have been driving without a driver's license.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
Fox News,
3 Mar. 2025
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The other victims include the 26-year-old driving the BMW, his 23-year-old passenger and the front passenger of the Camry.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
Orlando Sentinel,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Algorithmic recommendation engines that power everything from X to YouTube can even contribute to a slow-burn destabilization of American society by shoving consumers into partisan echo chambers that increase polarization and erode social trust.—
Seth Ashley,
The Conversation,
7 Mar. 2025
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The previous test flight, which similarly failed as the rocket was powering into space, most likely failed because of a leak in an engine causing a pressure buildup, the company said last month.—
Alex Knapp,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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While the event generated significant online discussion and participation from some consumer groups, the data suggests its impact on major corporations was muted.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
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There's no question that AI systems have accomplished some impressive feats, mastering games, writing text, and generating convincing images and video.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The start of a new year is a time for planning, embracing change and moving forward.—
Kristjan Vilosius,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
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On one of those days, Sue began asking Ken to move her to a care home.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Activate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activate. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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