trigger
TRIH-guh
Trigger (noun) means the small lever pulled with a finger to fire a gun. Example: “The trigger on the toy cap gun was stiff and hard to squeeze.”
noun
1
The small lever pulled with a finger to fire a gun.
"The trigger on the toy cap gun was stiff and hard to squeeze."
"A safety catch stops the trigger from moving by accident."
"He kept his finger off the trigger until he was ready to shoot."
2
Anything that sets off a chain of events or a reaction.
"Pollen is the main trigger for my hay fever each spring."
"The rumor was the trigger for the whole scandal."
"Stress is a common trigger for her migraines."
verb
1
To cause something to start happening.
"Burning toast will trigger the smoke alarm in our kitchen."
"A single typo can trigger an error across the whole program."
"The announcement triggered a wave of protests."
2
To provoke a strong emotional reaction, especially a distressing one.
"Certain songs trigger painful memories for her, so she avoids them."
"Be careful, because that topic might trigger him and spoil the evening."
"The film contains scenes that could trigger some viewers."
How to use trigger
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- triggers
- Third person singular
- triggers
- Past tense
- triggered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ on the toy cap gun was stiff and hard to squeeze.
Etymology
Originally "tricker," from Dutch trekker ("pull"), related to trekken ("to pull or drag").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for trigger
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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