to activate
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to activate
To put a function, device, or account into an operational state. To switch something on or make it ready to use.
Sie müssen Ihre neue SIM-Karte online aktivieren, bevor Sie telefonieren können.
You have to activate your new SIM card online before you can make calls.
to mobilize
To get people to do something or motivate them to get involved in something.
Die Kampagne soll junge Wähler aktivieren, zur Wahl zu gehen.
The campaign is intended to mobilize young voters to go to the polls.
to activate
In chemistry or physics, to make a substance more reactive or put it into an excited state.
Durch die Bestrahlung wird das Material aktiviert und beginnt zu leuchten.
The irradiation activates the material and it begins to glow.
The verb 'aktivieren' (to activate) is derived from the adjective 'aktiv' (active). The ending '-ieren' is a typical way of forming verbs from adjectives, often from other languages, that mean 'to make something ...'.
Um die Muskeln zu aktivieren, müssen Sie sich bewegen.
To activate the muscles, you have to move.
'Aktivieren' is a transitive verb and almost always requires an accusative object. You always activate 'etwas' (something) or 'jemanden' (someone).
Bitte aktivieren Sie Ihr neues Bankkonto.
Please activate your new bank account.
In a technical context, 'aktivieren' is frequently used with digital or electronic things. Typical examples are: 'eine Funktion aktivieren' (activate a function), 'einen Account aktivieren' (activate an account), 'den Alarm aktivieren' (activate the alarm), or 'eine Software aktivieren' (activate software).
Ich habe vergessen, den Diebstahlschutz für mein Handy zu aktivieren.
I forgot to activate the anti-theft protection for my phone.
If the object is a group of people, for example voters, members, or citizens, 'aktivieren' usually means 'to motivate' or 'to mobilize'.
Die Partei möchte mit der neuen Kampagne unentschlossene Wähler aktivieren.
The party wants to mobilize undecided voters with the new campaign.
This meaning of 'aktivieren' is used almost exclusively in the technical language of chemistry and physics.
Das Enzym wird durch Wärme aktiviert.
The enzyme is activated by heat.
to trigger / release
Both verbs can refer to switching on or starting a device or mechanism. „Auslösen“ emphasizes the specific impulse that immediately starts a function, whereas „aktivieren“ more often means making something ready for operation. Use „auslösen“ for a single starting impulse and „aktivieren“ for switching on a function.
Vor dem Test aktivierte die Technikerin die Alarmfunktion.
Before the test, the technician activated the alarm function.
Der Druck auf den Knopf löste den Alarm sofort aus.
Pressing the button triggered the alarm immediately.
