as in to trigger
to cause to function
his obscene comment touched off a heated debate about the need for censorship on live broadcasts
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Recent Examples of touch off
Then OpenAI’s ChatGPT, released only a few weeks before Mercor’s founding, touched off a race among the tech giants to train the most advanced AI models.
—
Richard Nieva, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The explosions and fire touched off July 1 on a rural compound near County Roads 23 and 86A, where two fireworks companies — Devastating Pyrotechnics and BlackStar Fireworks — were storing materials.
—Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Florida establishing new single-year execution record The death warrant likely will touch off legal battles about whether Jones should be executed.
—Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
Trump’s move is likely to touch off an extensive legal battle that will probably go to the Supreme Court and could disrupt financial markets.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for touch off
Richard Nieva, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The explosions and fire touched off July 1 on a rural compound near County Roads 23 and 86A, where two fireworks companies — Devastating Pyrotechnics and BlackStar Fireworks — were storing materials.
—Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Florida establishing new single-year execution record The death warrant likely will touch off legal battles about whether Jones should be executed.
—Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
Trump’s move is likely to touch off an extensive legal battle that will probably go to the Supreme Court and could disrupt financial markets.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for touch off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touch off
Verb
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Clubs such as United reassess the probability of the clause’s triggering at each reporting date, and adjust the registration cost accordingly.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
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The United Nations issued a statement about the mishap, saying that the elevator stopping might have been triggered for safety as a videographer was standing backwards ahead of the president trying to film him.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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On a typical two-lane road, drivers going in both directions are required to stop when a school bus activates its red flashing lights and extends the stop arm.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
21 Sep. 2025
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Bet on either of these games to activate your offer from BetMGM Sportsbook.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But the president’s crackdown, which has seen one immigrant fatally shot by a federal agent, has sparked nearly around-the-clock protest at the facility located about 12 miles west of the Willis Tower.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
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Hundreds of lightning strikes sparked across the Bay Area as a low pressure system passed through the region this week, bringing a spattering of rain and a cooldown that is set to end as temperatures heat up again.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Hernandez Santana then drove to the front of the station and fired three shots into the building’s lobby, prosecutors said.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
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Then the group would load the vehicles with drugs and drive them across the border.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 Sep. 2025
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Investors and journalists regularly parse his press conferences for hints about upcoming rate cuts or hikes, trying to get ahead of the market; even the suggestion of a pause or a pivot can set off rallies or selloffs on Wall Street.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The idea is that Nvidia gives OpenAI cash to build data centers, and in return, OpenAI buys Nvidia’s chips (at a discount) to power those data centers.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
24 Sep. 2025
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Genna McDonald tallied two goals and an assist to power Medfield to a 5-1 Tri-Valley League win over Norwood.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The traffic itself generally keeps moving rather than fully stopping.—
Eric D. Lawrence,
USA Today,
28 Sep. 2025
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Univisión moved the Premios Juventud to Panama and the Latin Grammys to Las Vegas, after hosting the 2024 event here.—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Touch off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touch%20off. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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