activate
Americanverb (used with object)
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activates,
present (3rd person singular)
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activated,
past participle, past
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activating
present participle
-
to make active; cause to function or act.
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Physics.
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to render more reactive; excite.
to activate a molecule.
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to induce radioactivity.
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to aerate (sewage) in order to accelerate decomposition of impure organic matter by microorganisms.
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Chemistry.
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to make (carbon, a catalyst, molecules, etc.) more active.
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to hasten (reactions) by various means, as heating.
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to place (a military unit or station) on an active status in an assigned capacity.
verb (used without object)
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activates,
present (3rd person singular)
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activated,
past participle, past
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activating
present participle
verb
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to make active or capable of action
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physics to make radioactive
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chem
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to increase the rate of (a reaction)
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to treat (a substance, such as carbon or alumina) so as to increase powers of adsorption
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physiol to prepare by arousal (the body or one of its organs (e.g. the brain)) for action
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to purify (sewage) by aeration
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military to create, mobilize, or organize (a unit)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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activationnoun
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activatornoun
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nonactivationnoun
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overactivateverb (used with object)
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superactivateverb (used with object)
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unactivatedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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activatesimple
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activatessimple
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have activatedperfect
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has activatedperfect
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am activatingprogressive
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are activatingprogressive
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is activatingprogressive
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have been activatingperfect progressive
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has been activatingperfect progressive
Past
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activatedsimple
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had activatedperfect
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was activatingprogressive
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were activatingprogressive
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had been activatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of activate
Explanation
To activate something is to start it off, trigger it, or set it in motion. A villain in a late-night movie might say, “Activate the robot chickens!” And then you’re free to activate your remote and change the channel. To activate something is to make it active. It’s not just for bad guys — when you activate a credit or library card, you can start using it. When a coach activates a player on a sports team, the player enters the game. If someone activates a bomb, you should run. If the pancakes you’re cooking burst into flames, you’ll probably activate the smoke alarm. And you should run.
Vocabulary lists containing activate
"Fears and Phobias," Vocabulary from the article
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"Fears and Phobias"
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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.
See Examples For:
They activate what Mr. Lieberman refers to as “primeval cravings,” stimulating the brain’s reward centers and contributing to addiction and overconsumption.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
When the structure loosens and opens, the genes become easier for the cell to activate.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026
In a more positive development, Will Smith faced live pitching for the first time since June, and Roberts said that the plan is to activate the catcher during the first week of September.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
They will also be able to activate "quiet times" when the tool will be switched off for them.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
She hadn’t come to a decision about whether to activate the pendant, but she knew that thinking about it all the time would drive her crazy.
From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld
Keytruda is administered at the same time to help make sure the patient’s immune response activates against the leftover cancer cells.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026
The molecule, known as BRP, works through a different but related metabolic pathway and activates a separate group of neurons in the brain.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026
McBride fears the law would interfere with the making of devices like the one that activates his lifelike hand.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
It activates if one spouse decides to stay at home and give up a career.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
The move activates his armguards—an enormous, glowing blue shield bursts outward from them in a circle, arcing protectively in front of us both.
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
“From a neuroscience stance, when you go through something so intense with others, bonding chemicals are activated in your brain, and it’s beneficial for human mental and physical health in a lot of ways.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
Tyler Glasnow will likely be activated during the Dodgers’ upcoming road trip to Atlanta.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
Known as 'expression quantitative trait loci', these switches can be thought of as volume controls that influence how strongly particular genes are activated or suppressed.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026
Poland's military command said it had mobilised aircraft and activated air defences aimed at protecting its airspace, particularly in areas bordering Ukraine.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
During dry spells, the farm’s powerful sprayers were activated.
From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown
Simply placing the cells nearby was not enough, suggesting that additional activating signals were involved.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026
Wearers can record video or take a photo by touching the frame - usually activating a light on the glasses in the process.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
"What we're saying is that at least part of coffee's health benefits may come through binding and activating this receptor," Safe said.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 19, 2026
More time is devoted to setting up the dramatic situation than to activating it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
I think about what my mother said, about activating my genes and becoming Chinese.
From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
