different between activate vs instigate

English

Etymology

active +? -ate

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ækt??ve?t/

Verb

activate (third-person singular simple present activates, present participle activating, simple past and past participle activated)

1. (transitive) To encourage development or induce increased activity; to stimulate.

2. (transitive) To put a device, mechanism (alarm etc.) or system into action or motion; to trigger, to actuate, to set off, to enable.

3. (transitive, chemistry, physics) To render more reactive; excite.
4. (transitive, biology) To render a molecule reactive, active, or effective in performing its function.
5. (transitive, physics) To render a substance radioactive.
6. (transitive, chemistry) To hasten a chemical reaction, especially by heating.
7. (transitive, computing, software) To remove the limitations of demoware by providing a license; to unlock.
8. (transitive) To aerate in order to aid decomposition of organic matter.
9. (transitive, military) To organize or create a military unit or station.

10. (transitive, sports) To bring a player back after an injury.

Synonyms

• actuate
• enable
• get going
• set going
• set in motion
• set off
• spur
• start
• stimulate
• trigger
• turn on

Related terms

• activation

Antonyms

• deactivate
• inactivate

Translations

Anagrams

• cavitate

English

Etymology

From the Latin ?nst?g?tus, past participle of ?nst?g?re (“to instigate”), from prefix in- (“in”) + *stigare, akin to stinguere (“push, goad”). Compare German stechen (“to prick”), English stick.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??nst??e?t/

Verb

instigate (third-person singular simple present instigates, present participle instigating, simple past and past participle instigated)

1. (transitive) to incite; to bring about by urging or encouraging
   • 2017, Desa Markovic, Working with Sexual Issues in Psychotherapy

     If the man perceives that his partner has arousal or orgasmic difficulties, this is likely to influence his desire to instigate sexual activity and/or his enjoyment and pleasure in being sexual with his partner.

2. (transitive) to goad or urge (a person) forward, especially to wicked actions; to provoke
   • 1678, Robert Barclay, An Apology for the True Christian Divinity

     he might instigate them to swear against the law of God

   • 1738-1741, William Warburton, Divine Legation of Moses demonstrated on the Principles of a Religious Deist

     He hath only instigated his blackest agents to the very extent of their malignity.

   Synonyms: animate, encourage, impel, incite, provoke, spur, stimulate, tempt, urge

   Antonyms: halt, prevent, stop

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

• instigate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• instigate in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Esperanto

Adverb

instigate

1. present adverbial passive participle of instigi

Latin

Verb

?nst?g?te

1. second-person plural present active imperative of ?nst?g?