activate
verb
ac·ti·vate
ˈak-tə-ˌvāt 
activated; activating
: to make active or more active: such as
a(1)
: to make (something, such as a molecule) reactive or more reactive
(2)
: to convert (something, such as a provitamin) into a biologically active derivative
b
: to make (a substance) radioactive
c
: to treat (a substance, such as carbon or alumina) so as to improve adsorptive properties
d(1)
: to set up or formally institute (an organized group, such as a military unit) with the necessary personnel and equipment
(2)
: to put (an individual or unit) on active duty
: to become active
Synonyms
Examples of activate in a Sentence
Touch the screen to activate the system.
activate and then deactivate a mechanism
The camera is activated by pushing a button.
The bomb was activated by remote control.
Sunlight activates a chemical reaction in the plant's leaves.
vitamins that activate the growth of new cells
The President has activated the reserves.
Recent Examples on the Web
Attackers can then activate new domains intermittently, dropping those that are picked up by threat detection solutions and quickly moving on to the next domain in the same batch.
—
Ed Gibbs, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Subscribers then must visit a page set up by Amazon to activate the offer and link their Amazon account with Earnify.
—Bruce Gil, Quartz, 24 Oct. 2024
The camera software is easy to use—just press the camera icon to take a picture, the video camera icon to record video, and the reverse camera icon to activate the 2MP selfie camera.
—PCMAG, 23 Oct. 2024
Another is the functional electrical stimulation (FES) bike race, in which competitors with paraplegia ride a bicycle, with their leg muscles activated by an electronic controller.
—Dana MacKenzie, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for activate 
Ed Gibbs, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Subscribers then must visit a page set up by Amazon to activate the offer and link their Amazon account with Earnify.
—Bruce Gil, Quartz, 24 Oct. 2024
The camera software is easy to use—just press the camera icon to take a picture, the video camera icon to record video, and the reverse camera icon to activate the 2MP selfie camera.
—PCMAG, 23 Oct. 2024
Another is the functional electrical stimulation (FES) bike race, in which competitors with paraplegia ride a bicycle, with their leg muscles activated by an electronic controller.
—Dana MacKenzie, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for activate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'activate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near activate
Cite this Entry
“Activate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/activate. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
activate
verb
ac·ti·vate
ˈak-tə-ˌvāt
activated; activating
1
: to make active
2
: to make (as molecules) more chemically active
3
: to make (a substance) give off radioactive particles, give off light at low temperatures, be easily affected by light, or carry an electric charge under the influence of light or other electromagnetic radiation
4
: to treat (as carbon or alumina) so as to improve the amount of adsorption
5
: to place on active military duty
activate the reserves
Medical Definition
activate
transitive verb
ac·ti·vate
ˈak-tə-ˌvāt
activated; activating
: to make active or more active: as
a
: to convert into a biologically active derivative or form
activated plasminogen
b
: to make biologically or molecularly active
activate protein synthesis
The [spinal] cord also contains neuronal circuits … that can be activated by incoming sensory signals without input from the brain …—John W. McDonald et al., Scientific American
John W. McDonald et al., Scientific American
c
: to make (a substance) radioactive
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