Initialize vs Activate - What's the difference?

As verbs the difference between initialize and activate

is that initialize is to assign initial values to something while activate is to put into action, to put to work.

* initialise

To assign initial values to something

(computing) To assign an initial value to a variable

(computing) To format a storage medium prior to use

(computing) To prepare any hardware (such as a printer or scanner) for use

(activat)

To put into action, to put to work.

To turn on.

* actuate

* deactivate

* English ergative verbs