touch off

verb

touched off; touching off; touches off

transitive verb

1

a

: to provoke or initiate with sudden intensity

the verdict touched off local riots

b

: to cause to explode by or as if by touching with fire

2

: to describe or characterize with precision

Synonyms of touch off

• trigger
• activate
• spark
• drive
• set off
• power
• move

Examples of touch off in a Sentence

his obscene comment touched off a heated debate about the need for censorship on live broadcasts

Recent Examples on the Web

The company’s researchers invented much of the technology that touched off the current AI boom, but now Google is in a tight race with leading AI agent makers to win business from corporate customers clamoring for the technology to boost productivity. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026

Her announcement touched off a new round of progressive candidates backing away from the Iron Dome. —Andrew Lapin, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026

The movie touched off nationwide controversy when it was first released because of the real-world violence that seemed to follow in its wake. —Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026

With two minutes left in the period, Parayko ran Yurov into the boards from behind, touching off a fight between the Blues’ defenseman and Trenin. —Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1694, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for touch off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

touch off

verb

: to start by or as if by touching with fire

the announcement touched off riots