touch off
verb
touched off; touching off; touches off
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
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
That touched off an argument, during which Sweeney flashed a gun in his hip, according to the complaint.
—
Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Investigators said the gunfire stemmed from a dispute that touched off after the two groups left the basketball game.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
The Facebook post has been viewed more than 140,000 times, touching off hundreds of comments over driver responsibility and technology.
—David R. Smith, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
The hit touched off a fight, and ended with Minnesota on a power play, which would produce their first goal of the night.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for touch off
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Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Investigators said the gunfire stemmed from a dispute that touched off after the two groups left the basketball game.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
The Facebook post has been viewed more than 140,000 times, touching off hundreds of comments over driver responsibility and technology.
—David R. Smith, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
The hit touched off a fight, and ended with Minnesota on a power play, which would produce their first goal of the night.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for touch off
Cite this Entry
“Touch off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touch%20off. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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