noun B1 Intermediate Common

trigger

TRIH-guh

Trigger (noun) means the small lever pulled with a finger to fire a gun. Example: “He kept his finger off the trigger until he was ready to shoot.”

noun

The small lever pulled with a finger to fire a gun.

"He kept his finger off the trigger until he was ready to shoot."

Anything that sets off a chain of events or a reaction.

"The rumor was the trigger for the whole scandal."

"Stress is a common trigger for her migraines."

verb

To cause something to start happening.

"The announcement triggered a wave of protests."

To provoke a strong emotional reaction, especially a distressing one.

"The film contains scenes that could trigger some viewers."

How to use trigger

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe part of a gun you pull to fire it — or, more broadly, whatever sets off an event or a strong reaction.

Common pairings

pull the trigger trigger a response trigger warning

Word forms

triggered past tense, triggers plural, triggers singular

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He kept his finger off the _____ until he was ready to shoot.

Etymology

Originally "tricker," from Dutch trekker ("pull"), related to trekken ("to pull or drag").

Origin: Dutch

Synonyms

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catalyst spark stimulus impetus cause

Related words

why cause reason source create campaign agency trip

Rhymes for trigger

rigger Tigger jigger bigger digger gravedigger

See all rhymes for 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.

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Vocabulary lists that include trigger:

Words with Dutch origins Words that end with R Words that start with T

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