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1. Causing motion or action or change
   - actuating

1. The activity of causing to have energy and be active
   - energizing, activation, energising [Brit]

1. Put in motion or move to act
   "activate the circuits"
   - 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

See also: activation, activator, causative

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

Antonym: inactivate

Encyclopedia: Activate