trigger

1 of 2

noun

trig·​ger ˈtri-gər How to pronounce trigger (audio)
1
a
: a piece (such as a lever) connected with a catch or detent as a means of releasing it
especially : the part of the action moved by the finger to fire a gun
b
: a similar movable part by which a mechanism is actuated
trigger of a spray gun
2
: something that acts like a mechanical trigger in initiating a process or reaction

trigger

2 of 2

verb

triggered; triggering ˈtri-g(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce trigger (audio)

transitive verb

1
a
: to release or activate by means of a trigger
especially : to fire by pulling a mechanical trigger
trigger a rifle
b
: to cause the explosion of
trigger a missile with a proximity fuse
2
: to initiate, actuate, or set off by a trigger
an indiscreet remark that triggered a fight
a stimulus that triggered a reflex
3
: to cause an intense and usually negative emotional reaction in (someone)
Water had a way of triggering my brother and making ordinary, everyday weather take a frightening turn for the worse.Ingrid Law

intransitive verb

: to release a mechanical trigger

Examples of trigger in a Sentence

Verb Smoke triggered the fire alarm. The timer was set to trigger the bomb in exactly one hour. His remarks triggered a public outcry. Certain foods trigger his headaches. The power outage was triggered by heavy rains.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Another common trigger that both Dr. Voigt and Dr. Palomo have seen is local trauma—from brushing your teeth too aggressively, for example, accidentally biting the inside of your mouth while chewing, or diving into a bag of sharp Doritos. Jenna Ryu, SELF, 18 Mar. 2024 Asthma, allergens, and irritants are common triggers of a cough that's not caused by illness. Claire Gillespie, Health, 17 Mar. 2024 According to press reports, Barnett was found in the Ram with a silver pistol still in his hand, his finger on the trigger. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024 Instead, the trigger for special education testing in every state is either parent or teacher referral. Suzie Glassman, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024 Prosecutors said Holland pointed a loaded handgun at the head and chest of a 14-year-old on the bus and squeezed the trigger several times, but the weapon malfunctioned. Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 Twenty-three states and Washington D.C. have an automatic recount trigger if the margin is small enough, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 Without naming him, the D.A. conveyed that her office is really focused on a bigger fish: Alec Baldwin, the producer and actor who pulled the trigger. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024 The Whitmer administration initially sought to avoid the income tax trigger through a proposal that would have diverted 2022 income tax revenue into a special fund used to issue one-time $180 rebate checks. Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 7 Mar. 2024
Verb
But as the months pass, the odds grow that the Fed triggers its first cut in the run-up to Election Day, just as Republicans and Democrats center the economy in their appeals to voters. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 Hong Kong’s 2003 effort to pass internal security legislation not only triggered large protests. David Pierson, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024 Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel that triggered the war, and took another 250 people hostage. Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy and Tia Goldenberg, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 The court on Tuesday asked for responses to the question from relevant parties to a lawsuit that ultimately triggered the legislative action. Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2024 Despite the recent increase in violence and political turmoil in Haiti, the U.S. has not yet seen a spike in maritime migration in the Caribbean Sea that would trigger longstanding contingency plans that include housing migrants at Guantanamo Bay, two U.S. officials tell CBS News. Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2024 The lion’s downtown visit triggered immediate love from the public, which started posting a flurry of memes that started with hilariously absurd sightings of the cougar surfing near the Oceanside Pier or attacking an In-N-Out burger. Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024 However, if your return is selected for a manual review, other issues may arise that trigger an audit. Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Another possibility being considered is that the failure of columns at the tower’s southern edge is what triggered the collapse of the pool deck and then the tower. Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trigger.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

alteration of earlier tricker, from Dutch trekker, from Middle Dutch trecker one that pulls, from trecken to pull — more at trek

First Known Use

Noun

1621, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1916, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of trigger was in 1621

Dictionary Entries Near trigger

Cite this Entry

“Trigger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trigger. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

trigger

1 of 2 noun
trig·​ger ˈtrig-ər How to pronounce trigger (audio)
: a movable lever that activates a device when it is squeezed
especially : the part of the lock of a firearm that releases the hammer and so fires the gun
trigger adjective
triggered adjective

trigger

2 of 2 verb
triggered; triggering -(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce trigger (audio)
1
: to fire by pulling a trigger
2
: to begin, stir up, or set in motion as if by pulling a trigger
the remark that triggered the laughter

More from Merriam-Webster on trigger

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