Trigger
'trɪɡər
Definitions
3 meaningsA mechanism that initiates a process or event, especially the part of a firearm that, when pressed, causes the gun to fire.
'trɪɡər
The part of a gun that you pull to fire it.
The safety catch must be disengaged before you pull the trigger.
💡 Simply: The trigger is like the button that starts something. Like, on a gun, it starts the shooting. Or, sometimes it's something that starts a chain of events, like a bad memory being a trigger for sadness.
👶 For kids: The trigger is like a button that starts something. Like, the trigger on a toy gun makes it shoot!
More Examples
He accidentally pulled the trigger.
The gun had a hair trigger.
How It's Used
"The soldier's finger rested lightly on the trigger."
"Training focused on proper trigger discipline."
An event or thing that causes another event or reaction, especially a negative emotional response.
'trɪɡər
Something that causes an event or reaction.
His sudden outburst was triggered by a careless comment.
💡 Simply: A trigger is like the thing that sets something else off. Maybe seeing a certain food is a trigger if you're trying to diet, or maybe a loud noise is a trigger for a dog to bark.
👶 For kids: A trigger is something that makes something else happen. Like, a sad song can be a trigger for you to feel sad!
More Examples
The economic downturn was the trigger for the protests.
Certain foods can trigger allergic reactions.
How It's Used
"The smell of his old cologne acted as a trigger for her memories of him."
"Stress is a common trigger for migraines."
"The announcement was the trigger for a wave of panic."
To cause an event or action to happen.
'trɪɡər
To cause something to happen.
The scandal triggered a public outcry.
💡 Simply: To trigger something is to make it happen. Like, a funny video might trigger laughter. Or, a bad grade might trigger a talk with your parents.
👶 For kids: To trigger is to make something start. Like, pushing the button can trigger the machine to make ice cream!
More Examples
This event will likely trigger further debate.
The email triggered a series of actions.
How It's Used
"The incident triggered a police investigation."
"The price drop triggered a buying frenzy."
"The traumatic event triggered his PTSD symptoms."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
hair trigger
Extremely sensitive; easily provoked.
"He has a hair trigger temperament and easily flies into a rage."
pull the trigger
To take action or make a decision, often a decisive one.
"The company decided to pull the trigger and launch the new product."
From Middle Dutch *trekker* (“trigger, handle”), from *trecken* (“to pull, draw”). The word's meaning evolved from a mechanical component to its broader uses. It was first used to refer to the mechanism that releases a firearm's firing mechanism, which lead to its wider usage in various contexts.
Historically, the word "trigger" emerged primarily in the context of weaponry, referring to the part of a gun. The semantic broadening to encompass causal mechanisms in other fields occurred later.
Memory tip
Think of the trigger on a gun – it's what *starts* the shooting process.
Word Origin
"handle"