triggering
/ˈtrɪɡərɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [trˈɪɡɚɪŋ] /ˈtrɪɡərɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [trˈɪɡɚɪŋ] /ˈtri-gər How to pronounce trigger (audio)/ (ame, mw)
triggering — adjective
- triggeringpositive
- more triggeringcomparative
- most triggeringsuperlative
1. describes something that makes a person suddenly feel very upset, anxious, or fr
describes something that makes a person suddenly feel very upset, anxious, or frightened because it brings back memories of a painful past event
The war scenes were too triggering for Fatima, who lived through conflict as a child.
triggering + for + person who experienced trauma
Some social media posts now carry a warning if they contain triggering content.
triggering content — common collocation in online contexts
Loud arguments can be triggering for people who grew up in unstable homes.
The therapist advised Amir to avoid triggering situations until he felt stronger.
The old photographs were unexpectedly triggering for Elena.
- upsetting
less specific; can refer to any emotional distress, not just trauma-related
- distressing
more formal, emphasises emotional pain but not exclusively trauma-linked
- traumatic
stronger; describes the event itself rather than the reminder effect
文法句型
triggering + for + person
triggering + to + infinitive
用法筆記
Often used in mental health contexts. Many online forums and media platforms label content as 'triggering' to warn users who have experienced trauma.
常見錯誤
triggering — noun
1. an event, action, or condition that causes something else to happen or begin
an event, action, or condition that causes something else to happen or begin
The rise in oil prices acted as a trigger for widespread inflation across the region.
act as a trigger for — cause-and-effect pattern
Work stress can be a trigger for migraine headaches in some people.
be a trigger for + medical condition
Loud noise is a common trigger for seizures in patients with certain types of epilepsy.
Ananya identified the triggers that made her feel anxious during exam season.
The report's release served as the trigger for an urgent board meeting.
文法句型
trigger for + noun
trigger of + noun
act as a trigger
用法筆記
This sense is very productive in science, medicine, and business writing. The pattern 'trigger for [outcome]' is especially common in health contexts.
常見錯誤
2. the small curved piece of metal that you press with your finger to make a gun fi
the small curved piece of metal that you press with your finger to make a gun fire, or a similar part on a device that releases a spring or catch
Kwame kept his finger off the trigger until he reached the shooting range.
keep finger away from the trigger — safety instruction pattern
The hunter squeezed the trigger gently and the rifle fired with a loud crack.
squeeze the trigger — common verb + noun collocation
A safety lock on the trigger prevents the gun from firing by accident.
Before cleaning the rifle, Mei checked that the trigger mechanism was completely disconnected.
文法句型
the trigger of + noun
pull/squeeze the trigger
用法筆記
The verb phrase 'pull the trigger' is far more common in everyday English than the noun alone. 'Squeeze the trigger' is preferred in formal marksmanship contexts.
常見錯誤
triggering — verb
- triggeringpresent simple I / you / we / they
- triggerings3rd person singular
- triggeringing-ing form
- triggeringedpast simple
1. to make something begin to happen, especially a process, reaction, or series of
to make something begin to happen, especially a process, reaction, or series of events
The announcement triggered a wave of panic selling on the stock market.
trigger a wave of + noun — result pattern
Exercise triggers the release of endorphins that make you feel happier.
The new policy triggered a heated debate among teachers and parents at the school.
A single mutation in the gene can trigger a chain of health problems over time.
The email from Haruto triggered an investigation into the missing files.
文法句型
trigger + noun (process/response/reaction/event)
用法筆記
The most frequent sense of 'trigger' as a verb. Works across formal and informal registers. Common in academic, medical, and news writing.
常見錯誤
2. to cause someone to have a sudden strong negative emotional reaction, especially
to cause someone to have a sudden strong negative emotional reaction, especially by reminding them of something painful
Fireworks triggered Wei because they reminded him of his time in a war zone.
trigger + person + because-clause — explains the cause
The smell of chlorine at the swimming pool triggered Noa, who had once survived a flood as a child.
The hospital scene in the drama triggered Yuna, who had recently lost her grandmother.
The sound of a helicopter overhead triggered Henrik, who had been evacuated from a war zone the year before.
Reading the news article triggered unpleasant memories that he had locked away for years.
- upset
gentler; less clinical than 'trigger'
- traumatise
much stronger; implies lasting psychological damage
- distress
more formal; focuses on the emotional pain caused
文法句型
trigger + person
be triggered by + event/memory
用法筆記
This sense differs from verb/1 ('START A PROCESS') because the object is always a person and the result is an emotional state, not a logical or physical chain of events. Distinguish from the adjective 'triggering': the adjective describes the stimulus itself, while the verb describes the act of causing the reaction.
常見錯誤
3. to press the trigger of a gun or other weapon so that it fires
to press the trigger of a gun or other weapon so that it fires
The soldier hesitated before triggering his rifle at the approaching target.
trigger + weapon — direct object pattern
Liam triggered his flare gun to signal the rescue helicopter in the distance.
At the firing range, Sergeant Park instructed the recruits never to trigger a weapon indoors without ear protection.
The race official triggered the starting pistol and the runners dashed forward.
文法句型
trigger + a weapon
用法筆記
This sense is less common than 'pull the trigger' (noun + verb construction). It is used more in technical or formal writing about firearms.
常見錯誤
4. to cause a bomb, explosion, or similar device to go off
to cause a bomb, explosion, or similar device to go off
The demolition team triggered the explosion exactly at noon when the area was empty.
trigger the explosion — transitive with controlled blast
A small electrical fault triggered a gas explosion in the old factory building.
The bomb squad triggered a controlled explosion inside the abandoned warehouse to destroy the device safely.
The mining crew triggered a series of explosions deep inside the mountain to break up the rock.
- defuse
to remove the triggering mechanism and prevent an explosion
文法句型
trigger + bomb/explosion/device
用法筆記
Often used in technical or safety contexts. Can be literal (bomb, explosion) or extended (a chemical reaction, a volcano eruption).