1
a
: a piece (such as a lever) connected with a catch or detent as a means of releasing it
especially
: the part of the action moved by the finger to fire a gun
b
: a similar movable part by which a mechanism is actuated
trigger of a spray gun
2
: something that acts like a mechanical trigger in initiating a process or reaction
triggered; triggering
ˈtri-g(ə-)riŋ 
1
a
: to release or activate by means of a trigger
especially
: to fire by pulling a mechanical trigger
trigger a rifle
b
: to cause the explosion of
trigger a missile with a proximity fuse
2
: to initiate, actuate, or set off by a trigger
an indiscreet remark that triggered a fight
a stimulus that triggered a reflex
3
: to cause an intense and usually negative emotional reaction in (someone)
Water had a way of triggering my brother and making ordinary, everyday weather take a frightening turn for the worse.—
Ingrid Law
Ingrid Law
: to release a mechanical trigger
Synonyms
Examples of trigger in a Sentence
Verb
Smoke triggered the fire alarm.
The timer was set to trigger the bomb in exactly one hour.
His remarks triggered a public outcry.
Certain foods trigger his headaches.
The power outage was triggered by heavy rains.
Recent Examples on the Web
New Atlas, 17 Jan. 2025
Beneath the criminal hierarchy of kingpins, middlemen, and trigger pullers is a vast network of supporters greasing the wheels.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 16 Jan. 2025
Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Memos authored by House Republicans and Democrats, which have been declassified, showed that information about Papadopoulos’ contacts with Russian intermediaries triggered the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation in July 2016 of potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for trigger 
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Noun
Nintendo Bigger buttons too The Joy-Cons seem to be larger, as do the ZL and ZR shoulder triggers.
—New Atlas, 17 Jan. 2025
Beneath the criminal hierarchy of kingpins, middlemen, and trigger pullers is a vast network of supporters greasing the wheels.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
The fire triggered a round of mandatory evacuations in the nearby areas of Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre.
—Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Memos authored by House Republicans and Democrats, which have been declassified, showed that information about Papadopoulos’ contacts with Russian intermediaries triggered the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation in July 2016 of potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for trigger
Dictionary Entries Near trigger
Cite this Entry
“Trigger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trigger. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
trigger
2 of 2 verb
triggered; triggering
-(ə-)riŋ
1
: to fire by pulling a trigger
2
: to begin, stir up, or set in motion as if by pulling a trigger
the remark that triggered the laughter
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