# activate vs active

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### activate
*verb · IPA /ˈæktɪˌveɪt/ · frequency rank #10,159*
To encourage development or induce increased activity; to stimulate.

### active
*adjective · IPA /ˈæk.tɪv/ · frequency rank #1,239*
Having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; acting;—opposed to passive, that receives.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/activate-vs-active