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
Derived 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.
The conflict triggered a "cold war" as many of the game's major alliances began plotting each other's downfall.
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026
When Ohio Life closed its doors in August, a credit panic was triggered in New York.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
At the troughs of this structure, there were notable bullish reactions, including a harami in September 2024 and a bullish engulfing candle in April 2025, both of which previously triggered strong upside moves.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
These helper T cells triggered ferroptosis, a form of cell death driven by iron-dependent oxidative stress.
From Science Daily • Jun. 4, 2026
They were larger than when he had come in and had a purpose to them, a rapid movement in spite of their size that almost triggered alarm bells in David’s brain.
From "The Voyage Of The Frog" by Gary Paulsen
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.
