Triggered
ˈtrɪɡəd
Definitions
2 meaningsTo cause something to happen suddenly; to initiate or set off a reaction or process.
ˈtrɪɡəd
To cause something to happen or exist; to initiate a process.
The announcement triggered a spike in stock prices.
💡 Simply: Imagine you accidentally step on a toy and it makes a loud noise! 'Trigger' is like that noise-making step; it's the thing that makes something else happen.
👶 For kids: To make something start, like pressing a button to start a game.
More Examples
His comment triggered an argument.
The loud noise triggered her anxiety.
How It's Used
"The incident triggered a wave of protests."
"The smell of lavender triggered a memory of her grandmother."
"A signal triggered the alarm."
To cause a strong emotional response, often a negative one, such as anxiety, fear, or sadness, due to a past experience.
ˈtrɪɡəd
To cause a strong emotional reaction, especially a negative one.
Seeing the accident scene triggered her trauma.
💡 Simply: Imagine something reminds you of a bad experience, and it makes you feel upset or scared. That's being 'triggered' – the thing reminds you of a bad feeling.
👶 For kids: To make you feel a sad or scared feeling because it reminds you of something bad that happened before.
More Examples
The heated discussion triggered her anger.
The news report triggered his feelings of helplessness.
How It's Used
"The movie's violent scenes triggered him."
"Certain topics can trigger people with PTSD."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
trigger warning
A statement alerting viewers or readers to potentially upsetting or distressing content.
"The article included a trigger warning for descriptions of violence."
trigger-happy
Inclined to shoot or use force too readily.
"The police officer was considered trigger-happy and was reprimanded."
From 'trigger,' which originally referred to the mechanism that releases a firearm's firing pin. The figurative use, signifying to initiate or activate a response, emerged in the late 20th century.
Initially referred to the mechanical release of a firearm. Its figurative use, related to causing an event or emotion, became more common in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Memory tip
Imagine a gun trigger: pulling it causes a bullet to be fired. Similarly, something can 'trigger' an event or feeling.
Word Origin
"To move a piece of wood or a mechanical element. The origin is from the word 'trekker', meaning a lever or something to pull."