activates

verb

present tense third-person singular of activate
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of activates Founded by Gracia Walker and Benjamin Silver, Broc Shot centers on sulforaphane, a compound derived from broccoli seed that activates the NRF2 pathway, part of the body’s natural defense system. — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 12 Aug. 2026 Pinching and holding both buds at the same time activates a new Audio Snapshot mode that records phone call audio or incoming sound and syncs it to the Nothing X app. — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026 Your intuitive radar activates as the moon harmonizes with Pluto. — Usa Today, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 Tirzepatide, sold as Zepbound and Mounjaro, activates GLP-1 and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide). — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 6 Aug. 2026 The Marine Rain Massage is an immersive treatment that releases muscle tension, calms the nervous system, and activates circulation. — Rana Good, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026 This elevation activates the body's natural thermoregulation system, prompting perspiration. — Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Intense sunlight activates the acetic acid in the vinegar and quickly kills the foliage, burning it within hours. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026 Chili introduces capsaicin, which activates nerves responsible for sensing heat rather than taste. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activates
  1. triggers
  2. sparks
  3. drives
  4. generates
Verb
  • Presentation of the key, combined with the device already being signed in to the user’s Google account, triggers the Google server to present an authentication assertion to the site the user wants to log in to.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2026
  • In short, by calling 911, that usually triggers a law enforcement response.
    — Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of triggers
Verb
  • On July 22nd, sparks from a piece of heavy machinery ignited a fire near the town of Burgohondo, in Ávila province.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Mamdani announcement cracking down on tips sparks fury when internet notices one problem.
    — , FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of sparks
Verb
  • Under the proposal, a commuter who drives on I-90 from Barrington to work downtown and back 50 weeks a year would be charged $950 in 2027, up from $600 this year.
    — Marni Pyke, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • That Treasury bond specifically drives the direction of consumer lending rates, such as for mortgages, credit cards and personal loans.
    — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of drives
Verb
  • Each of those also generates four to six other jobs in construction, retail and local services, according to Washington State analyses.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Sekkouri said the industry has attracted around $100 million in investment and generates more than $1 billion in annual revenue in the country.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of generates

Browse Nearby Words

activated
activates
activating
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Cite this Entry

“Activates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activates. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on activates

Nglish: Translation of activates for Spanish Speakers

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