1. Put in motion or move to act
   - trip, actuate, trigger, set off, spark off, spark, trigger off, touch off 
2. Make active or more active
   "activate an old file" 
3. Make more adsorptive
   "activate a metal" 
4. Aerate (sewage) so as to favour the growth of organisms that decompose organic matter
   - aerate 
5. Make (substances) radioactive

Derived forms: activates, activated, activating

See also: activation, activator

Type of: alter, change, initiate, modify, pioneer

Antonym: inactivate

Encyclopedia: Activate

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• outfall
• outfield
• outfielder
• outfight
• outfit
• outfitted
• outfitter
• outfitting
• outflank
• outflow
• outflowing
• outfox
• outgas
• outgeneral
• outgo
• outgoer
• outgoing
• outgrow
• outgrowth
• outguess
• outgun
• outhaul
• outhouse
• outing