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trigger

noun trig·ger \ ˈtri-gər \

Updated on: 15 Nov 2017

Definition of trigger

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

—

triggered

play \ˈtri-gərd\ adjective

See trigger defined for English-language learners

See trigger defined for kids

Recent Examples of trigger from the Web

On the other hand, retirees are moving some — and (trigger warning!) including to the Northwest.

— jon talton, The Seattle Times, "Vote: Are you on the move for work or retirement?," 15 Sep. 2017
Six months after Prime Minister Theresa May pulled the trigger on Brexit, clarity has not emerged either on her vision of where to take the country or the state of talks on the details that the EU wants locked down before agreeing to discuss trade.

— alex morales, Bloomberg.com, "Iconic British Brands John Lewis and Dyson Clash Over Brexit," 14 Sep. 2017
Of course, the United States did not pull the trigger.

— joe pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "Trump's North Korea Nuke Plan? Nixon Thought of It First," 24 Oct. 2017
One said suggested the teenage Huggins might have been pressured by the adults in the car to pull the trigger.

— sydney pereira, miamiherald, "As young killer appeals for freedom, a family relives decades-old murder | Miami Herald," 11 Oct. 2017
And, in fact, advocates of trigger warnings would likely put them on most of the same content that earned obscenity labels in decades past.

— michael brendan dougherty, National Review, "The Emerging Moral Majority," 30 Sep. 2017
Often, the trigger is a milestone moment like buying a house or starting a family.

— kari costas, ELLE Decor, "Anatomy Of A Stylish, Kid-Friendly Living Room," 6 Apr. 2016
Note: most of the accounts come with trigger warnings.

— krystin arneson, Glamour, "Cameron Russell Is Giving Women in the Fashion Industry a Platform to Share Their Sexual Harassment Stories," 14 Oct. 2017
So long as that remains the case, insurers will need to proceed on the assumption that Trump is going to pull the trigger.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "The GOP Must Make Obamacare Sabotage-Proof by Month’s End," 7 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trigger.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of trigger

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1621

See Words from the same year

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

automatic, carbine, cudgel, muzzle, rapier

2

trigger

verb

Definition of trigger

triggered; triggering play \ˈtri-g(ə-)riŋ\

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

See trigger defined for English-language learners

Examples of trigger in a Sentence

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 of trigger from the Web

What happened: Indeed, no obvious successor to the Chinese president emerged from the party’s twice-a-decade meeting in October, triggering speculation that Xi will try to stay in office beyond the two terms mandated by Deng Xiaoping.

— Bloomberg.com, "What We Got Right (and Wrong) in 2017," 3 Nov. 2017
In some people gluten can be really bad, triggering an immune response to attack the small intestine.

— bryant stamford, The Courier-Journal, "Why our knee-jerk responses to diets promote obesity and poor health," 2 Nov. 2017
Piazzi announced his results and triggered a race against the clock to find the new planet.

— avery thompson, Popular Mechanics, "How We Discovered, Lost, and Rediscovered the First Asteroid," 17 Oct. 2017
Bergdahl walked away from his post in Afghanistan, triggering a search that left some of his comrades severely wounded.

— Washington Post, "No prison for Bergdahl in sentencing for walking off post," 4 Nov. 2017
That rise in subsidies is an offshoot of a decision by President Trump to cancel one subsidy, triggering increases in a different subsidy.

— daniel chang, miamiherald, "Confused about Obamacare enrollment? Burden falls on Florida insurers and advocates," 27 Oct. 2017
That’s because in Game 2 of the World Series, Maybin stole second base in the 11th inning, and that triggered Taco Bell’s giveaway.

— pete grathoff, kansascity, "How to get a free taco from Taco Bell on Nov. 1, 2017 | The Kansas City Star," 1 Nov. 2017
Don’t pursue other investment opportunities that could tie your money up or trigger penalties to take it out.

— nathan bachrach, Cincinnati.com, "Simply Money: Hate budgeting? Make it fun," 19 Oct. 2017
Halstead, Harris, and many other researchers have raised concerns that a dengue vaccine produced by Sanofi Pasteur may, in fact, be triggering ADE in some recipients.

— jon cohen, Science | AAAS, "Dengue antibodies might trigger life-threatening infections," 2 Nov. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trigger.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of trigger

1916

trigger Synonyms

Synonyms

actuate, crank (up), drive, move, run, set off, spark, start, touch off, activate, turn on

Antonyms

cut, cut out, deactivate, kill, shut off, turn off

Related Words

kick over, turn over; charge, electrify, energize, fire, fuel, generate, power, push; discharge, launch, release, switch, trip; reactivate, recharge; arouse, excite, jump-start, kick-start, stimulate, vitalize; ignite, incite, instigate, provoke, quicken, stir up; accelerate, catalyze, speed (up), step up

Near Antonyms

arrest, brake, check, cut off, draw up, halt, jam, stall, stick, stop; decelerate, repress, slow, stunt, suppress

TRIGGER Defined for English Language Learners

trigger

noun

Definition of trigger for English Language Learners

: a lever on a gun that you pull to fire the gun
: something that causes something else to happen

trigger

verb

Definition of trigger for English Language Learners

: to cause (something, such as an alarm) to start functioning
: to cause (a bomb) to explode
: to cause (something) to start or happen

TRIGGER Defined for Kids

trigger

noun trig·ger \ ˈtri-gər \

Definition of trigger for Students

:the part of the lock of a gun that is pressed to release the hammer so that it will fire

Learn More about trigger

See words that rhyme with trigger Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for trigger Spanish Central: Translation of trigger Nglish: Translation of trigger for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of trigger for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trigger

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Examples: trigger in a Sentence