trigger
B2Neutral to formal; also common in technical, psychological, and media contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To cause something to start or happen, often suddenly.
1. A small lever on a gun that you pull to fire it. 2. Something that causes a strong emotional reaction, especially because of past trauma. 3. To initiate a process or sequence.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb sense often implies a causal link that is immediate or automatic. The noun sense relating to trauma is a modern, sensitive extension.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use all senses. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
The psychological 'trigger' sense is equally common in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English in media/political discourse (e.g., 'trigger warning', 'trigger laws').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
trigger + noun (trigger an event)be triggered by + nountrigger + noun + to-infinitive (less common)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “quick on the trigger”
- “trigger-happy”
- “pull the trigger (on a decision)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A new tax could trigger a market downturn.
Academic
The study aimed to identify the factors that trigger volcanic eruptions.
Everyday
Bright lights can trigger my migraines.
Technical
The SQL command includes a BEFORE DELETE trigger.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The comment triggered a lengthy debate in parliament.
- The sensor will trigger the sprinkler system.
American English
- The ruling could trigger a series of appeals.
- That song always triggers good memories.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used as a pure adverb; 'trigger-quick' is an adverbial compound) His response was trigger-quick.
American English
- (Rarely used as a pure adverb) She reacted trigger-fast.
adjective
British English
- He's a bit trigger-happy with the email complaints.
- The article came with a trigger warning for violence.
American English
- The politician has a trigger-happy approach to sanctions.
- The course includes trigger warnings for sensitive content.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Don't touch that, it might trigger the alarm.
- He pulled the trigger.
- The news triggered a lot of anxiety.
- What triggered the argument?
- The government's decision triggered widespread protests.
- Certain smells can trigger vivid childhood memories.
- The enzyme triggers a cascade of cellular reactions.
- The film's content necessitated a detailed trigger warning for survivors of trauma.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TRIGGER on a gun: a small action that causes a BIG event.
Conceptual Metaphor
CAUSATION IS PULLING A TRIGGER (A small, deliberate action releases a powerful, often unstoppable, chain of events).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'триггер' in all contexts; for 'cause/start', use 'вызывать', 'запускать'.
- The noun 'спусковой крючок' is only for guns/mechanical devices.
- The psychological sense is often translated as 'триггер', but note its specific connotation.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'trigger' for slow, gradual causes (e.g., 'The education triggered his knowledge' – incorrect).
- Confusing 'trigger' with 'cause' where no sudden/automatic mechanism is implied.
- Using the psychological sense insensitively or out of context.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'trigger' used in its PRIMARY psychological sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but it often is. It can be neutral (trigger a process) or positive (trigger a happy memory), though the psychological and crisis-related uses lean negative.
'Trigger' suggests a more immediate, direct, and often automatic initiation, like a switch. 'Cause' is broader and can involve slower, more complex factors.
It is now standard in academic, media, and online contexts to flag potentially distressing content. It is considered appropriate formal register within those domains.
Yes, especially in databases (SQL triggers), where it refers to code that automatically executes in response to a specific event (e.g., updating a record).