trigger

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.

In contrast, withdrawing $10,000 from an IRA would trigger income tax based on your bracket — roughly $1,200 in a 12% tax bracket, $2,200 in a 22% bracket, or $2,400 in a 24% bracket.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

If CPI data show a biting price-spike, that will be among the first major red flags for the U.S. economy, which could trigger a spiral in stocks as long as the conflict stretches on.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

In the longer term, high oil prices risk pushing consumers into habits that slash their oil use, or could trigger a recession that hurts demand.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

"When people don't know what you are going through, things can be said or done unintentionally that may trigger you," Elena says.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Could a rare but natural event, the impact of a sizable cometary fragment, trigger a nuclear war?

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan