Definition

1. Noun:

   • A device that activates or releases something: A small lever or button that, when pressed, causes a mechanism to operate, especially the mechanism that fires a gun.
   • An act or event that initiates a process: Something that causes a particular action, reaction, or series of events to begin.

2. Verb:

   • To cause something to start or happen: To make a process, reaction, or event begin.
   • To activate a mechanism: To operate a device, especially by pulling or pressing a trigger.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • He carefully placed his finger on the trigger. (He carefully placed his finger on the gun's firing mechanism.)
  • The article about the scandal was the trigger for the investigation. (The article was the event that started the investigation.)

• Verb:

  • The announcement triggered widespread protests. (The announcement caused widespread protests to begin.)
  • The smoke triggered the fire alarm. (The smoke activated the fire alarm.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be quick on the trigger": To react very quickly; to be fast to act or respond.

  • In debates, she is always quick on the trigger with a sharp reply. (She always responds very quickly in debates.)

• "to trigger a memory": To cause a memory to come suddenly into one's mind.

  • That song triggers a memory of my childhood. (That song makes me suddenly remember my childhood.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trigger-happy (adj): Too eager to use force or to take drastic action, especially by firing a gun.
  • The trigger-happy guard shot without warning. (The guard, who was too eager to shoot, fired without warning.)

Synonyms

• Noun: Catalyst, cause, stimulus, spark.
• Verb: Activate, initiate, spark, set off, prompt.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Trigger off: To cause something to start, often something negative or a chain of events.
  • The new tax policy triggered off a series of strikes. (The new tax policy caused a series of strikes to begin.)

Related Idioms

• To pull the trigger: To make the final decision to start something important or risky; to take decisive action.
  • After months of research, they finally pulled the trigger and launched the product. (They finally made the decisive move to launch the product.)

Noun

1. an act that sets in motion some course of events
2. a device that activates or releases or causes something to happen
3. lever that activates the firing mechanism of a gun

Verb

1. release or pull the trigger on
   • Trigger a gun
2. put in motion or move to act
   • trigger a reaction
   • actuate the circuits