Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for trigger on Thesaurus.com a small projecting tongue in a firearm that, when pressed by the finger, actuates the mechanism that discharges the weapon. a device, as a lever, the pulling or pressing of which releases a detent or spring. anything, as an act or event, that serves as a stimulus and initiates or precipitates a reaction or series of reactions. Slang triggerman .Show More
to initiate or precipitate (a chain of events, scientific reaction, psychological process, etc.): Their small protest triggered a mass demonstration. to fire or explode (a gun, missile, etc.) by pulling a trigger or releasing a triggering device: He accidentally triggered his rifle. Show More
verb (used without object) to release a trigger. to become active; activate. Show More
quick on the trigger , Informal quick to act or respond; impetuous; alert. Show More
Origin of trigger 1615–25; earlier
tricker <
Dutch trekker, equivalent to
trekk(en ) to pull +
-er -er1 Related forms un·trig·gered , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for triggered Contemporary Examples of triggered The Big Five banks dubbed too big to fail, are 35 percent bigger than they were when the meltdown was triggered .
No alarms were triggered as she strolled out of the Giant supermarket in Limerick, Pennsylvania, and nobody thought otherwise.
The Daily Beast: What triggered you to take up this initiative?
In defiance, I held my ticket above my head, which triggered the spitting and chants of “How Dare You!”
Instead, Sanders sold it for a sweet $87,000, which triggered an inevitable lawsuit (PDF).
Historical Examples of triggered Joe Chessman took his heavy gun from its holster and triggered it twice.
The inner airlock door in the orbit-ship was triggered to a fuse.
Perhaps it was just the sound of the word in his head that triggered off the sudden panic.
The associations had triggered the wrong words into existence.
With you helping, we can isolate the thing that triggered you out of this.
British Dictionary definitions for triggered a small projecting lever that activates the firing mechanism of a firearm machinery a device that releases a spring-loaded mechanism or a similar arrangement any event that sets a course of action in motion Show More
(usually foll by off) to give rise (to); set off to fire or set in motion by or as by pulling a trigger Show More
Derived Forms triggered , adjective triggerless , adjective Word Origin for trigger C17 tricker , from Dutch trekker , from trekken to pull; see trek
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for triggered n. 1650s, earlier tricker (1620s), from Dutch trekker "trigger," from trekken "to pull" (see trek ). Tricker was the usual form in English until c.1750. Trigger-happy is attested from 1943.
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v. 1930, from trigger (n.). Related: Triggered ; triggering .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with triggered In addition to the idiom beginning with trigger
also see:
quick on the draw (trigger) Show More
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
