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

• 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 killing touched off a massive response from law enforcement that led investigators to a residence in Kansas City’s Davidson neighborhood in the Northland. —Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025

But both further polarized a nation already deeply divided by political ideology and touched off a movement to punish those whose views did not fall in line with the prevailing sentiment of the moment. —Michael Collins, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025

Bailey did more than amplify the Giants’ resurgent playoff hopes when his bases-clearing home run clinched a 5-1 victory and touched off mass euphoria in China Basin. —Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025

Williams said, touching off laughter. —Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2025

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