activate

activate — verb

1. to switch on a machine, system, or account so that it begins operating, often by

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to switch on a machine, system, or account so that it begins operating, often by pressing a button, entering a code, or completing a setup step.

Example

Gita pressed the red button to activate the alarm before leaving the house.

activate + physical device (alarm)

Please enter the code on the back of the card to activate your new account.

activate + account (online services)

Common collocations
  • activate the alarm
  • activate an account
  • activate a card
  • activate a feature
Synonyms
  • switch on

    everyday phrasal verb, used mostly for physical devices

  • trigger

    stresses the start of an automatic response, often without a person

  • enable

    makes a feature available, but doesn't always mean it starts running

Antonyms
  • deactivate

    to switch a device, account, or feature off

  • disable

    to turn a feature off so it cannot be used

Grammar Patterns

activate + [device/system/account]

Usage Note

Subject is usually a person, signal, or condition; the object is a device, software feature, account, or safety system. Often used in the passive when describing automatic triggers.

Common Mistakes

I want to active my new credit card.
I want to activate my new credit card.
'active' is an adjective; the verb is 'activate'.

2. in science, to cause a substance to react, or to speed up a chemical or biologic

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

in science, to cause a substance to react, or to speed up a chemical or biological process, usually by applying heat, light, or another helpful agent.

Example

The students gently warmed the flask to activate the reaction between the two liquids.

activate + reaction, by heating

Sunlight is needed to activate the chemicals that turn the leaves green in spring.

activate + chemicals, light as trigger

Common collocations
  • activate the enzyme
  • activate the reaction
  • activate the catalyst
Synonyms
  • catalyse

    more technical; specifically refers to speeding up by a catalyst

  • trigger

    more general; starts a reaction without saying it speeds up

Antonyms
  • inhibit

    to slow down or block a chemical reaction

Grammar Patterns

activate + [substance/reaction]

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about chemical or biological change, not turning on a machine. Subject is usually a form of energy (heat, light) or an added substance; object is a reaction, enzyme, or chemical.

Common Mistakes

The cook activated the kitchen to make bread.
The cook activated the yeast with warm water to make bread.
the object should be the substance or reaction, not the place.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words can describe starting something, but they differ in what kind of object fits and how formal they sound. 'Switch on' is the most everyday choice and works best with physical devices like lamps, fans, or televisions; you would not normally 'switch on' a bank account. 'Activate' is more formal and covers a wider range — devices, alarms, accounts, software features, even SIM cards — and often suggests a setup step like entering a code. 'Trigger' focuses on starting an automatic reaction and usually has an inanimate subject, as in 'smoke triggered the alarm'. 'Enable' makes a feature available but does not promise it is running yet — you might enable Bluetooth on your phone before pairing a speaker.

activate ↗switch on ↗trigger ↗enable ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • press to activate
  • scan to activate

Prepositions

  • activate by
  • activate with

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The verb 'activate' comes from the Latin word 'activus', meaning 'doing' or 'practical', which itself grew from 'agere' meaning 'to do' or 'to drive'. English borrowed the adjective 'active' through Old French in the 14th century, and the verb 'activate' was formed in English in the early 1600s by adding the verb-making ending '-ate'. The chemistry sense, used for speeding up reactions, became common in scientific English during the late 19th century.