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
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
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recently issued a joint advisory warning that two-factor authentication needed to be activated for all webmail and VPN accounts as a matter of urgency.
—
Davey Winder, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
New users can sign up through our links to activate this welcome offer in time for second round action over the weekend.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
Lottery database records showed someone activated a book containing 30 tickets for the Florida 300X The Cash scratch-off game and scanned the whole book in 10 minutes on Feb. 24, 2023, authorities said.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2025
The results showed that an infant appeared more likely to remember an image if the hippocampus activated more during the first exposure.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for activate
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Davey Winder, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
New users can sign up through our links to activate this welcome offer in time for second round action over the weekend.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
Lottery database records showed someone activated a book containing 30 tickets for the Florida 300X The Cash scratch-off game and scanned the whole book in 10 minutes on Feb. 24, 2023, authorities said.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2025
The results showed that an infant appeared more likely to remember an image if the hippocampus activated more during the first exposure.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for activate
Cite this Entry
“Activate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/activate. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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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