activate

USAGE SUMMARY

'activate' is a perfectly valid and usable word in written English.
It is a verb which means to make something become active or make something begin to work. You can use it when referring to a process being set in motion. For example, "The scientists activated the experiment to measure the effects on the environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He posits two general systems of thinking:  System 1, intuitive and quick, good for most purposes, but prone to those pesky cognitive traps; and System 2, deliberative and slow, better at higher reasoning but effortful to activate and keep active.

The Economist

The interaction between a molecule and a receptor triggers a pulse of electrical activity that is transmitted to the brain.Most odoriferous molecules activate more than one type of receptor.

The Economist

Additionally, if any application or website provides you with the option to activate double authentication, use it.

The Guardian - Tech

Lawn refused to comment on whether Parkinson had a get-out clause in his deal that the Blades had failed to activate.

The Guardian - Sport

Here is what Victor had to say about his Activate experience: 'The chance to speak on the Activate main stage was one of the most exhilarating moments in my start-up career.

The Guardian

As Pop-Up City explains, Dance-o-Mat is a mobile dance floor equipped with four speakers and a disco ball, which you can activate with some small change and a playlist.

The Guardian

The project is part of a trend of "adaptive urbanism", celebrated as a grassroots way of engaging communities to design and activate their cities.

The Guardian

Instead, it will be controlled by three buttons on its side to scroll through text and activate functions.

The Guardian - Tech

Toby Alderweireld's loan from Atlético Madrid expires so the club will either have to activate their option to buy the centre-back – who may prefer to join an even bigger club – or find someone else.

The Guardian - Sport

Related: Karl Oyston's Blackpool hell-ride: where will tangerine nightmare end? | Daniel Taylor The three players Blackpool have chosen to activate an option of a new contract on are Nile Ranger, Andrea Orlandi and José Miguel Cubero but for varying reasons all may depart over the summer.

The Guardian - Sport

On the Data sheet, select cell range A1 D16 and copy it and activate the worksheet Saves and paste the selected range to the left, then again, a few rows below its bottom, and atop that, do Paste Special Values.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing technical documentation, prefer "activate" over more casual synonyms like "turn on" to maintain a professional tone.

Common error

Avoid using "activate" when a simpler verb like "start" or "begin" would suffice. "Activate" is best suited for scenarios where something is being made functional or operational, and when overused it makes the writing sound awkward.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "activate" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object to complete its meaning, indicating what is being set into motion or made functional. Ludwig AI confirms its active role in sentences, such as "activate the system".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

23%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "activate" is a versatile transitive verb meaning to set something in motion or make it functional, as highlighted by Ludwig AI. Its usage spans various contexts, from technical instructions to news reports. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, as confirmed by Ludwig, it's best used when a precise and somewhat formal tone is desired. Consider alternatives like "turn on" or "initiate" to prevent overuse. The examples show frequent occurrence in "News & Media", "Wiki", and "Science" contexts, underlining its broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Set in motion

Replaces "activate" with a more descriptive phrase, emphasizing the initiation of movement or action.

Turn on

A simpler, more direct alternative to "activate", often used for devices or systems.

Switch on

Similar to "turn on", this alternative emphasizes the act of enabling something.

Trigger

Highlights the cause-and-effect aspect of activation, suggesting that something is initiated by a specific event.

Initiate

A more formal alternative to "activate", suitable for official or technical contexts.

Start up

Implies bringing a system or process from an inactive to an active state.

Set off

Similar to "trigger", this phrase implies that the action starts suddenly and energetically.

Enable

Focuses on providing the means or opportunity for something to become active.

Power up

Suggests supplying energy to a device or system to make it operational.

Kick-start

Implies giving an initial boost to begin a process or activity, particularly after a period of inactivity.

FAQs

How to use "activate" in a sentence?

You can use "activate" to describe the process of making something active or functional, such as "Please "activate" the alarm system before leaving" or "The new software key will "activate" all features".

What can I say instead of "activate"?

You can use alternatives like "turn on", "initiate", or "trigger" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "activate" a plan or should I use another word?

While "activate" can be used with "plan", it might be more appropriate to use verbs like "implement", "execute", or "launch" for a more precise meaning.

What's the difference between "activate" and "enable"?

"Activate" implies bringing something into a state of operation or functionality, while "enable" means to give someone or something the means to do something. You "activate" a system, but enable a feature.