Dictionary / activate
activate
- verb
- formed in English
To encourage development or induce increased activity; to stimulate.
1 All current definitions
Every sense of “activate” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.
verb
- transitiveTo encourage development or induce increased activity; to stimulate.
activate the economy
- transitiveTo put a device, mechanism (alarm etc.) or system into action or motion; to trigger, to actuate, to set off, to enable.
The pranksters activated the fire alarm by spraying deodorant next to it.
- transitiveTo render more reactive; excite.
- transitiveTo render a molecule reactive, active, or effective in performing its function.
- transitiveTo render a substance radioactive.
- transitiveTo hasten a chemical reaction, especially by heating.
- transitiveTo remove the limitations of demoware by providing a license; to unlock.
- transitiveTo aerate in order to aid decomposition of organic matter.
- transitiveTo organize or create a military unit or station.
A new squadron was activated.
- transitiveTo bring a player back after an injury.
- intransitiveTo enter an active state.
The burglar alarm activates automatically.
Cross-check: WordNet senses (5)
- verbput in motion or move to act — also: trip, actuate, trigger, set off, spark off
- verbmake active or more active
- verbmake more adsorptive
- verbaerate (sewage) so as to favor the growth of organisms that decompose organic matter — also: aerate
- verbmake (substances) radioactive
Synonyms: actuate, enable, get going, set going, set in motion, set off, spur, start, stimulate, trigger, turn on
Antonyms: deactivate, inactivate
2 History of the word
The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.
The word’s journey, newest to oldest:
- English (today)activate
- Englishactive + -ate
From active + -ate.
Derivatives — words built from “activate”
Phrases & compounds
Related terms
Want to go deeper? See also “activate” on Etymonline ↗
3 Original language
Where “activate” came from before it was English.
4 Original meaning
What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.
Wiktionary’s etymology does not give a separate meaning for the earliest form of “activate”, so we don’t state one. The historical dictionary entry below shows how the word was understood in 1913.
Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913
A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.
activate v. t.
- To make active.
5 Use it with confidence
Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.
verbMeaning: To encourage development or induce increased activity; to stimulate.
activate the economy
verbMeaning: To put a device, mechanism (alarm etc.) or system into action or motion; to trigger, to actuate, to set off, to enable.
The pranksters activated the fire alarm by spraying deodorant next to it.
verbMeaning: To organize or create a military unit or station.
A new squadron was activated.
verbMeaning: To enter an active state.
The burglar alarm activates automatically.
verbMeaning: make active or more active
activate an old file
verbMeaning: make more adsorptive
activate a metal
Three steps to owning it
- Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
- Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
- Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?
6 The mastery game
Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.
Say it, then spell it
activate
/ˈæktɪˌveɪt/
Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.
Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________
activate
/ˈæktɪˌveɪt/ · verb
Step 1 — Say it and write it
Say “activate” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.
Step 2 — Know every meaning
Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.
Step 3 — Which meaning is it?
“activate the economy”
Circle the meaning used.
“The pranksters activated the fire alarm by spraying deodorant next to it.”
Circle the meaning used.
“A new squadron was activated.”
Circle the meaning used.
Step 4 — History and origin
Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):
Write three words built from “activate” and what each means:
Step 5 — Original meaning
Read the etymology on the page. What does it tell you about the word’s earlier meaning?
How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?
Step 6 — Use it yourself
☐ I can explain its meanings ☐ I know its history ☐ I know its original language ☐ I know its original meaning ☐ I can use it confidently
Answer key — activate
Which meaning, sentence 1: A. To encourage development or induce increased activity; to stimulate.
Which meaning, sentence 2: B. To put a device, mechanism (alarm etc.) or system into action or motion; to trigger, to actuate, to set off, to enable.
Which meaning, sentence 3: A. To organize or create a military unit or station.
Origin: B. English
Journey: English activate ← English active + -ate
Some derivatives: activable, activatable, activater, activator, activatory, alloactivated, autoactivate, bioactivate
Etymology: From active + -ate.
Sources: Wiktionary “activate” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/activate#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/activate