triggered

[trig-erd] / ˈtrɪg ərd /

VERB

cause to happen

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bring about cause generate produce prompt provoke set off spark start

STRONG

activate elicit

WEAK

give rise to set in motion

Antonyms

STRONGEST

destroy end halt prevent stop

WEAK

block check

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Firefighters have determined that the emergency was triggered by a failure of the tank’s internal cooling system on Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

A leaking chemical tank at GKN Aerospace is going to fail or explode in an “unprecedented” event that triggered evacuation orders on Friday for thousands of Orange County residents.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

A frozen housing market has further eroded demand, stalling the renovations and big-ticket home-furnishing purchases typically triggered by a move.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

The order was triggered in part by concerns over Anthropic's Mythos model, which the AI startup has refused to release publicly over safety fears.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

It could be a birthday that triggered the new cycle or something more unexpected, like finding something in a drawer that belonged to her.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen