triggered
Americanadjective
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started, set in motion, or released by a specified thing or in a specified way.
I saw an article online about obesity-triggered heart disease.
When any of the cameras detects a motion, the LCD screen displays live video from the triggered camera.
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fired or exploded by pulling a trigger or releasing a triggering device.
One of the triggered missiles blew up in the second level of the building, injuring three people.
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having an intense negative emotional reaction to something, usually something connected with past trauma or a bad experience.
When a stressful social encounter makes me feel triggered and panicky, I try to distance myself from the situation.
Consider using a triggered state, such as anger or anxiety, as a signal to yourself to pause and relax.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of triggered
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Triggered by earthquakes, underwater landslides or volcanic eruptions, they spread rapidly over long distances before releasing their energy near the coast in the form of sudden submersion and extremely powerful currents.
From Science Daily • May 21, 2026
Triggered by a succession of heavy winter rains in 2023 and 2024, the ongoing land movement has upended the lives of residents and cast the city into financial uncertainty.
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2025
Triggered intentionally by distraction-app peddlers, the physical distress arrives via non-physical triggers on your screen.
From Salon • Jun. 18, 2023
Triggered by infrared sensors, the static cameras are used to check up on animal populations long term and take censuses of their numbers.
From Washington Post • May 21, 2022
Triggered by emergency systems, control rods automatically shot up into the reactor cores, putting a damper on the movement of neutrons between the fuel rods.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
