as in triggers
to cause to function
the thermostat is set to activate the heating system only when the temperature drops below 65 degrees
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Recent Examples of activates
When damage occurs, whether as a crack, fracture, or microscopic defect, the material senses the disruption and activates an internal repair response.
—
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
Sanders’ go-to exercise activates muscles in your core and hips to help prevent the above inefficiencies.
—Sarah Klein, Outside, 10 Feb. 2026
The latter initially presents in Ferrari yellow until its depressed into the central console, at which point the key turns black, the top of the glass shifter turns yellow, and all the instrumentation activates.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 9 Feb. 2026
When temperatures drop below 32 degrees after dark, the city activates enhanced Code Blue, which intensifies outreach and relaxes shelter rules to bring more people indoors.
—Jeffrey Ginsburg, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
The energy shifts fast, starting with the Last Quarter Moon in Scorpio, which activates your partnership and one-on-one relationship sector.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 8 Feb. 2026
This smart lock implements palm vein recognition that activates in less than a second.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 6 Feb. 2026
The city's health department activates the alert when temperatures are expected to fall below 13 degrees or when weather conditions could pose a danger to residents.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Instead of recognizing the tumor as an invader that needs to be destroyed, the brain processes the signal and activates the sympathetic nervous system, mainly known as the driver of the fight-or-flight response.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2026
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
Sanders’ go-to exercise activates muscles in your core and hips to help prevent the above inefficiencies.
—Sarah Klein, Outside, 10 Feb. 2026
The latter initially presents in Ferrari yellow until its depressed into the central console, at which point the key turns black, the top of the glass shifter turns yellow, and all the instrumentation activates.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 9 Feb. 2026
When temperatures drop below 32 degrees after dark, the city activates enhanced Code Blue, which intensifies outreach and relaxes shelter rules to bring more people indoors.
—Jeffrey Ginsburg, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
The energy shifts fast, starting with the Last Quarter Moon in Scorpio, which activates your partnership and one-on-one relationship sector.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 8 Feb. 2026
This smart lock implements palm vein recognition that activates in less than a second.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 6 Feb. 2026
The city's health department activates the alert when temperatures are expected to fall below 13 degrees or when weather conditions could pose a danger to residents.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Instead of recognizing the tumor as an invader that needs to be destroyed, the brain processes the signal and activates the sympathetic nervous system, mainly known as the driver of the fight-or-flight response.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activates
Verb
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Using solar energy, the device triggers evaporation to draw lithium inward, while its unique 30-degree tilt manages waste.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
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With persistent slabs, the first few travelers may pass without incident, only to hit a weak spot later that triggers a full release.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Continue reading … 'VILE' — Dem Rep's 'total meltdown' in heated hearing with ICE director sparks viral outrage.—
,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
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Born blind and hungry for connection, his early obsession with the telephone sparks a subculture that shapes the future of hacking and modern technology.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Unlike body composition metrics, BMI obscures the true extent of metabolic dysfunction and cannot distinguish between muscle and fat — or between superficial fat and the visceral fat that drives diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions.—
Bret Scher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
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Some of what also drives Honnold is making the world a better place.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Public estimates suggest the company generates roughly US$3 million in annual revenue and employs about 25 people.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
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This causes a blast of high-energy radiation called a gamma-ray burst (GRB), a final screech of gravitational waves, and sends out a spray of neutron-rich matter, which allows a process to occur that generates very heavy but unstable elements.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Activates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activates. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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