trigger
10 synonyms for trigger, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The small lever pulled with a finger to fire a gun.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The small lever pulled with a finger to fire a gun.
“The trigger on the toy cap gun was stiff and hard to squeeze.”
How to use trigger
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
pull the trigger
trigger a response
trigger warning
Etymology
Originally "tricker," from Dutch trekker ("pull"), related to trekken ("to pull or drag").
Full origin of trigger →Frequently asked questions
What does “trigger” mean?
The word “trigger” means the small lever pulled with a finger to fire a gun. In plain terms, the part of a gun you pull to fire it — or, more broadly, whatever sets off an event or a strong reaction.
How do you pronounce “trigger”?
“Trigger” is pronounced TRIH-guh (/ˈtɹɪɡɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “trigger” in a sentence?
Here is “trigger” used in a sentence: “He kept his finger off the trigger until he was ready to shoot.”
What part of speech is “trigger”?
Depending on how it is used, “trigger” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “trigger” come from?
The word “trigger” comes from Dutch. Originally "tricker," from Dutch trekker ("pull"), related to trekken ("to pull or drag").
Is “trigger” a common word?
“Trigger” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “trigger” have?
“Trigger” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the small lever pulled with a finger to fire a gun.
What is the difference between a trigger and a cause?
A trigger is the immediate event that sets off a reaction that was already possible or building up. A cause is the deeper underlying reason, so a trigger is often just the final spark rather than the root.
What is the difference between the literal and figurative meaning of trigger?
Literally, a trigger is the small lever on a gun that is pulled with a finger to fire it. Figuratively, a trigger is anything that sets off a chain of events or a reaction.
What are common phrases that use trigger?
Frequent collocations include pull the trigger, trigger warning, trigger-happy, and to trigger a response. Most of these draw on the sense of setting something in motion.
