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

• activate
• actuate
• crank (up)
• drive
• move
• run
• set off
• spark
• start
• trigger
• turn on

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 debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer, a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. —Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2024

Skyrocketing salaries for top athletes and lucrative deals for college players have touched off a new gold rush among wealth management firms. —Robert Frank, CNBC, 24 Dec. 2024

This week, scientists revealed climate change touched off the rare cascade of events because thinning ice triggered a landslide. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 13 Sep. 2024

On the witness stand last month, Momeni said Lee had attacked him in a fit of anger touched off by a joke. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1694, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

touch off

verb

: to start by or as if by touching with fire

the announcement touched off riots