What does trigger mean?

Definitions for trigger
ˈtrɪg ərtrig·ger

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word trigger.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. gun trigger, triggernoun

    lever that activates the firing mechanism of a gun

  2. triggernoun

    a device that activates or releases or causes something to happen

  3. trigger, induction, initiationverb

    an act that sets in motion some course of events

  4. trip, actuate, trigger, activate, set off, spark off, spark, trigger off, touch offverb

    put in motion or move to act

    "trigger a reaction"; "actuate the circuits"

  5. triggerverb

    release or pull the trigger on

    "Trigger a gun"

Wiktionary

  1. triggernoun

    A finger-operated lever used to fire a gun.

    Just pull the trigger.

  2. triggernoun

    A similar device used to activate any mechanism.

  3. triggernoun

    An event that initiates others, or incites a response.

  4. triggernoun

    An event, experience or other stimulus that initiates a traumatic memory or action in a person.

  5. triggernoun

    A pulse in an electronic circuit that initiates some component.

  6. triggernoun

    An SQL procedure that may be initiated when a record is inserted, updated or deleted; typically used to maintain referential integrity.

  7. triggernoun

    A text string that, when received by a player, will cause the player to execute a certain command.

  8. triggernoun

    A catch to hold the wheel of a carriage on a declivity.

  9. triggerverb

    to fire a weapon

  10. triggerverb

    to initiate something

  11. Etymology: Originally tricker, from trekker, from trekken.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Triggernoun

    Etymology: derived by Franciscus Junius from trigue, Fr. from intricare, Lat.

    The pulling the trigger of the gun with which the murder is committed, has no natural connection with those ideas that make up the complex one, murder. John Locke.

ChatGPT

  1. trigger

    A trigger is an act, event, or circumstance that causes an action to occur, initiates a process, or stimulates a reaction. It can be both intentional as in a planned catalyst or unintentional like an unexpected incident causing an emotional response. In different contexts, such as in firearms, computing, psychology, etc., it may have specific connotations.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Triggernoun

    a catch to hold the wheel of a carriage on a declivity

  2. Triggernoun

    a piece, as a lever, which is connected with a catch or detent as a means of releasing it; especially (Firearms), the part of a lock which is moved by the finger to release the cock and discharge the piece

Wikidata

  1. Trigger

    Trigger was a 15.3 hands palomino horse, made famous in American Western films with his owner/rider, cowboy star Roy Rogers.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Trigger

    trig′ėr, n. a catch which when pulled looses the hammer of a gun in firing: a catch to hold a wheel when driving on steep ground. [Dut. trekkertrekken, to pull.]

CrunchBase

  1. Trigger

    Trigger, a San Francisco, CA-based company that has just launched its cross-platform mobile development framework targeted at web developers who want to be able to create native mobile apps.

Dictionary of Nautical Terms

  1. trigger

    In ship-building, is the letting fall the paul of the cradle by which the dog-shore falls flush, and offers no further obstruction to the ship gliding down the ways into her absurdly termed "native element." Also, a small catch under the lock of fire-arms, by drawing which back, when the piece is cocked, it is discharged.

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer

  1. trigger

    A steel catch, which being pulled disengages the cock of a gunlock, and causes the hammer to strike the nipple in percussion-muskets, and the firing-pin in breech-loaders. The difference between a hair and common trigger is this: the hair-trigger, when set, lets off the cock at the slightest touch, whereas the common trigger requires a greater degree of force, and consequently its operation is retarded.

Editors Contribution

  1. triggerverb

    (of something seen or heard) make (someone) angry or sad; upset.

    The bad news triggered him.


    Submitted by zakaria1409 on June 29, 2022  

Suggested Resources

  1. trigger

    Song lyrics by trigger -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by trigger on the Lyrics.com website.

Surnames Frequency by Census Records

  1. TRIGGER

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Trigger is ranked #53316 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

    The Trigger surname appeared 388 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Trigger.

    81.4% or 316 total occurrences were White.
    14.6% or 57 total occurrences were Black.
    2% or 8 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
    1.8% or 7 total occurrences were of two or more races.

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Verbs Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'trigger' in Verbs Frequency: #972

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

How to pronounce trigger?

How to say trigger in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of trigger in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of trigger in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of trigger in a Sentence

  1. Christian Stocker:

    It's highly likely that the ECB will announce plans to purchase government bonds worth at least 500 billion euros, a number below that will disappoint markets and might trigger a sell-off in equities.

  2. President Barack Obama:

    Submerged countries, abandoned cities, fields that no longer grow. Political disruptions that trigger new conflicts, leaving more floods of desperate people seeking sanctuary in nations not their own.

  3. Giuseppe Sersale:

    Stress is high enough to trigger a reaction of monetary authorities to calm down nerves. And (ECB chief Mario) Draghi tomorrow can do something.

  4. Jim Price:

    The big institutions pocket all the money on the first few days of trading and they know the exact moment when to trigger a flip and sell, where does that leave individual investors ? Not in a very good place.

  5. Dave Wang:

    There isn’t really one trigger, but many bits and pieces that add to the narrative to stay away from China, almost on a daily basis you have negative news coming out, so it forms the impression there’s no end in sight.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

trigger#1#6906#10000

Translations for trigger

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

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"trigger." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 14 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/trigger>.

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    the trait of lacking restraint or control; reckless freedom from inhibition or worry
    A peccadillo
    B pluck
    C crate
    D abandon

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