to activate

Examples

• All

• Hey, can you help me activate my phone?

  American Royalty (2022)

• She learned how to activate the safety features on her bike for better protection.

• All right, give me a just second, let me activate it.

  Tina and Lori (2021)

• So I'm going to activate the video if I can.

  GaryVee

• I'm going to activate the names tab.

• So we're going to activate, reactivate some of these.

• A willing gallery visitor activates the piece through a single touch of a button.

  Academic text (2013)

• Use promo code Theo Theo to activate that offer.

• Many chat tools enable participants in group chats to activate "private rooms" for one-on-one conversations.

  Academic text (2013)

• Can you help me activate my new phone so I can start using it?

Synonyms

T

to trigger

vsto activate

422 4.2

To cause something to start or happen

is general, also including gradual starts and increasing activity, not only sudden starts

C

to come up

vsto activate

• Specialized

262 3.5

To start working after being switched on

is transitive and can mean causing something to start or increase activity, not only starting

S

to stimulate

vsto activate

236 3.7

Make a person or thing more active, alert and responsive

focuses on increasing activity or alertness rather than initiating the start

S

to spark

vsto activate

154 3.4

To cause something to start, often an idea or strong feeling

focuses on sudden starts while key also covers simple activation or increased activity

S

to set off

vsto activate

131 3.1

To cause something to start or happen

is broader, meaning starting work or raising activity not only events

E

to engage

vsto activate

• Specialized

96 5.1

To make a machine part start working

focuses on mechanical connection rather than general starting or increasing activity

T

to trip

vsto activate

36 6.5

To make a switch or device start working by turning it on

is similar but covers starting or increasing activity beyond switch operations

E

to energize

vsto activate

• US

30 4.7

To give more energy to something, for example with electricity or light

centers on raising energy, while key also includes simply starting devices or actions

T

to turn on

vsto activate

26 3.2

To quickly show a feeling or quality to get a result

emphasizes producing an effect rather than simply starting or boosting activity

T

to touch off

vsto activate

• US

15 7.4

Make an event or strong reaction start suddenly

is typically violent or dramatic, unlike the key's normal start or increase

J

to jumpstart

vsto activate

9 4.7

To make something begin or become active quickly and with energy

adds force and speed to starting, not just making something active or more active

M

to mobilize

vsto activate

7 4.8

To make someone or something start to move and become active

is broader when including starting work but also covers physical movement, not just starting

S

to spark off

vsto activate

• Informal

1 3.9

To cause a sudden event or strong reaction to begin

is more sudden and event focused than the key's general starting or boosting sense

A

to actuate

vsto activate

• Specialized

1 7.3

To make a machine start working

is broader, also meaning to increase activity rather than only start

T

to trigger off

vsto activate

• UK

1 5.1

To cause something to start suddenly

overlaps but key also covers making things more active over time

Antonyms

D

to deactivate

63 3.9

To make a device, system, or account stop working

I

to inactivate

4 5.8

To make something stop working

How Active

to energize

• US

30 4.7

to stimulate

236 3.7

to activate

715 3.6

to start

∞ 1.0

to switch on

32 1.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology