Yap.Town

acionar

to activate; to switch on; to trigger, to operate; to engage (a mechanism), to contact; to call (an authority/service), to initiate (legal action); to sue

ɐ s j u n a ɾ
acion activate; trigger + ar future subjunctive, eu/ele/ela
verb Rare #30,818
to activate; to switch on; to trigger Common with devices/mechanisms (e.g., alarm, button, lever): 'acionar' = make it operate.
PO: Ao ver fumaça, ele decidiu acionar o alarme.
EN: When he saw smoke, he decided to activate the alarm.
to operate; to engage (a mechanism) Often used with 'acionar o freio', 'acionar uma alavanca', 'acionar o motor' (engage/operate).
PO: Para parar o carro, ela precisou acionar o freio de mão.
EN: To stop the car, she needed to engage the handbrake.
to contact; to call (an authority/service) Very common in formal/news contexts: 'acionar a polícia', 'acionar os bombeiros', 'acionar a assistência'.
PO: Diante do acidente, eles foram acionar a polícia imediatamente.
EN: Given the accident, they went to call the police immediately.
to initiate (legal action); to sue Legal usage: 'acionar alguém na Justiça' = bring a lawsuit against someone.
PO: A empresa decidiu acionar o fornecedor na Justiça por quebra de contrato.
EN: The company decided to sue the supplier for breach of contract.
Conjugation of acionar
acionar
Subjunctive future
SingularPlural
First acionar —
Third acionar —

Acionar lança-chamas!

Activate the flamethrower!

— Avatar: O Caminho da Água (2022)

Arranque do motor direito, acionar.

Start the right engine and engage it.

— Destruição Final: O Último Refúgio (2020)

Paguei o seguro em dia e mesmo assim tive problema pra acionar.

I paid my insurance on time and still had trouble filing a claim.

Eles vão acionar o gerador mas até lá teremos pânico.

They’re going to turn on the generator, but until then we’ll be in a panic.

— Bacurau (2019)

Eu vou acionar.

I’m going to sue.

— Duna: Parte Dois (2024)

Arranque do motor esquerdo, acionar.

Start the left engine, engage.

— Destruição Final: O Último Refúgio (2020)

Ele nunca precisou acionar o seguro, sorte dele.

He never needed to file a claim with his insurance company, lucky for him.

Acionar as cápsulas de ventilação auxiliar.

Activate the auxiliary ventilation capsules.

— O Barco: Inferno no Mar (1981)