activate

Verb

Verb Forms: activated, activating, activates

• To make something operative; to set in motion.
• put in motion or move to act
• make active or more active
  • "activate an old file"
• make more adsorptive
  • "activate a metal"
• aerate (sewage) so as to favor the growth of organisms that decompose organic matter
• make (substances) radioactive
• To encourage development or induce increased activity; to stimulate.
• To put a device, mechanism (alarm etc.) or system into action or motion; to trigger, to actuate, to set off, to enable.
• To render more reactive; excite.
• To render a molecule reactive, active, or effective in performing its function.
• To render a substance radioactive.
• To hasten a chemical reaction, especially by heating.
• To remove the limitations of demoware by providing a license; to unlock.
• To aerate in order to aid decomposition of organic matter.
• To organize or create a military unit or station.
• To bring a player back after an injury.

Examples

• A new squadron was activated.
• activate the economy
• He played ’ZA’ to activate the triple word score for his next turn.
• The pranksters activated the fire alarm by spraying deodorant next to it.

Synonyms

actuate, aerate, set off, spark, spark off, touch off, trigger, trigger off, trip, enable, get going, set going, set in motion, spur, start, stimulate, turn on

Antonyms

inactivate, deactivate

Related Words

activation