ENGLISH
REFERENCE

trigger

n. · v.
US //ˈtɹɪɡɝ// UK //tɹˈɪɡɐ// trig·ger
  1. 1 part of a gun (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the small lever you pull with your finger to fire a gun.

    a finger-operated lever used to discharge a firearm.

    Example

    He kept his finger off the trigger until he was ready to shoot at the target.

    Example

    The forensic report indicated that the trigger had been modified to require very little pressure, suggesting the weapon was intended for competitive marksman use.
  2. 2 an event that starts something (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    something that causes a process or a series of events to begin.

    an event, stimulus, or circumstance that initiates a mechanical, chemical, or social process.

    Example

    The sudden drop in stock prices was the trigger for a global financial crisis.

    Example

    Economists debated whether the tax hike was the primary trigger for the recession or merely a contributing factor in an already fragile market.
Show 4 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 emotional stimulus (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Psychology

    something that causes someone to feel upset or remember a bad experience.

    a stimulus that elicits a strong emotional response or initiates a traumatic memory in an individual.

    Example

    Certain smells can be a trigger for people who have experienced a fire.

    Example

    The therapist worked with the patient to identify specific environmental triggers that preceded his panic attacks.
  2. 4 electronic pulse (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Electronics

    an electrical signal that starts a component or a computer program.

    a pulse or signal in an electronic circuit or database that initiates a specific action or procedure.

    Example

    The sensor sends a trigger to the camera to take a photo when it detects movement.

    Example

    The database administrator configured a trigger to automatically update the inventory levels whenever a new sales record was inserted into the system.
  3. 5 to cause something to happen (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to make something start happening, especially suddenly.

    to initiate or precipitate a chain of events or a specific reaction. Transitive, requiring a direct object.

    Example

    The smoke from the burnt toast triggered the fire alarm in the hallway.

    Example

    The discovery of the virus in the local water supply triggered an immediate emergency response from the public health department.
  4. 6 to upset someone (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Psychology

    to cause someone to have a strong, usually negative, emotional reaction.

    to provoke a strong emotional or psychological reaction, often relating to past trauma. Frequently used in passive constructions.

    Example

    Loud noises can trigger some veterans who have been in combat.

    Example

    The documentary was preceded by a warning that some of the graphic footage might trigger viewers sensitive to depictions of violence.
Origin

Originally tricker, from Dutch trekker (“pull”, noun, as in drawer-pull, bell-pull), from Dutch trekken (“to drag, draw, pull”).

Word family
Idioms3 entries

© 2026 English Reference