activate
verb (used with object)
to make active; cause to function or act.
activating
-
present participleof activate.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Netherlands hopes to insulate the court by activating the European Union’s “blocking statute,” a rule that would ban EU companies from complying with the sanctions and thereby expose them to U.S. secondary sanctions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
The primary and most convenient way to interact with the display, however, is by activating Siri AI with your voice.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
Instead of simply shutting down a cancer-promoting protein, the scientists designed a small molecule that connects it to another protein capable of activating the cell's built-in death program.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
In the last several months city officials, law enforcement and community groups have taken different approaches to addressing conditions at the park and activating the space.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
He flipped a switch under the table activating microphones hidden in the wall.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
