activate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to make active; cause to function or act.
-
Physics.
-
to render more reactive; excite.
to activate a molecule.
-
to induce radioactivity.
-
-
to aerate (sewage) in order to accelerate decomposition of impure organic matter by microorganisms.
-
Chemistry.
-
to make (carbon, a catalyst, molecules, etc.) more active.
-
to hasten (reactions) by various means, as heating.
-
-
to place (a military unit or station) on an active status in an assigned capacity.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to make active or capable of action
-
physics to make radioactive
-
chem
-
to increase the rate of (a reaction)
-
to treat (a substance, such as carbon or alumina) so as to increase powers of adsorption
-
-
physiol to prepare by arousal (the body or one of its organs (e.g. the brain)) for action
-
to purify (sewage) by aeration
-
military to create, mobilize, or organize (a unit)
Other Word Forms
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Creativity at Work" and "The Hidden Secrets of the Creative Mind"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Fears and Phobias"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Members of the the 77th Street Division’s specialized gang detail came under internal investigation in recent months for failing to activate their body-worn cameras and pulling people over without documenting the interactions.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026
Instead, it appears to help activate a negative feedback signal in mechanosensory neurons.
From Science Daily • May 10, 2026
It's important to activate the shape-shifting of the energy-storing molecules in a smooth, repeatable way.
From BBC • May 7, 2026
The team also used advanced imaging and laser-based methods to observe activity inside the cells and to activate individual neural connections with precision.
From Science Daily • May 3, 2026
They activate and silence genes, thereby defining the embryo’s axis from head to tail.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
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.
