To activate something is to make it start working or functioning. It often involves turning something on, starting a process, or making something ready for use.
From 'active' + '-ate', formed in the 19th century. 'Active' comes from Latin 'activus', related to 'agere' (to do).
Activate is like flipping the story from potential to actual—what could happen starts to happen. That’s why we talk about 'activating' a card, a plan, or even muscles before exercise.
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