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
At issue is whether drones or cruise missiles could be hidden in shipping containers aboard these vessels, activated remotely or after offloading, and used in a preemptive strike.
—
Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
The Premier League champions activated his €35million (£29.6m; $40m) release clause, and the fee will be paid in three instalments over three years.
—Caoimhe O'Neill, New York Times, 2 June 2025
While activating your eighth house of joint ventures and emotional bonds, consider what needs to be reworked or improved in your personal life and relationship investments.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 1 June 2025
Breathing in and sighing out slowly for longer than your in breath with an open mouth can activate the vagus nerve, a crucial component of the parasympathetic nervous system.
—Paul McClure 24, New Atlas, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for activate
Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
The Premier League champions activated his €35million (£29.6m; $40m) release clause, and the fee will be paid in three instalments over three years.
—Caoimhe O'Neill, New York Times, 2 June 2025
While activating your eighth house of joint ventures and emotional bonds, consider what needs to be reworked or improved in your personal life and relationship investments.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 1 June 2025
Breathing in and sighing out slowly for longer than your in breath with an open mouth can activate the vagus nerve, a crucial component of the parasympathetic nervous system.
—Paul McClure 24, New Atlas, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for activate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activate
Verb
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That passage marked the start of more frequent financial warnings from Dimon, including worries of a recession — which didn’t happen until the 2020 pandemic triggered a two-month contraction — as well as concerns around market meltdowns and the ballooning U.S. deficit.—
Hugh Son,
CNBC,
30 May 2025
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That's why the spectacular cruelty with which the cuts were carried out tanked Musk's personal brand and triggered Trump's inexorable decline in approval.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Madeleine went missing on May 3, 2007, while on holiday with her family in the Algarve town of Praia da Luz, sparking a frenzied search and gaining the attention of the world’s media.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
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Bryant’s comments have sparked debate online, highlighting the continuing tension between inclusivity campaigns in major sports and the personal beliefs of current and former players.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Goldstein drove Boozer home with a sacrifice fly and Corral plated the go-ahead run with a single through the right side.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 June 2025
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Sundowns’ success has also arguably been good for South Africa, helping drive new standards, develop players and coaches, and change perceptions about what is possible for clubs from the continent when investment is made available.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
Verb
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At 43, this might look like a driver nearing the twilight of his career; the undeniable talent behind the wheel that powered him to two world titles, and within a handful of points of another three, finally starting to wane.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
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Meanwhile, Blue Origin inked a deal with United Launch Alliance to supply a version of its New Glenn main engine to power that company's Vulcan rocket.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Some of those accusations later generated criminal charges and convictions in New York and California.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 June 2025
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As of Friday, June 6, the TikTok has generated over 4.4 million views.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
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The rational criminal, after all, will just move a block over—set up shop where the odds tilt in his favor.—
Malcolm Gladwell,
New Yorker,
2 June 2025
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Word moved around the ticket-holders, likely waiting for Novak Djokovic’s match to follow this one, that one of their own was doing something special.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Activate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activate. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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