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 trip has touched off a House Oversight Committee investigation and even a call from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for Zelensky to fire his ambassador to the U.S. for organizing the trip. —Andrew Solender, Axios, 26 Sep. 2024

The tightening presidential race has touched off a wave of tax planning by ultra-wealthy investors, especially given fears of a higher estate tax, according to advisors and tax attorneys. —Robert Frank, CNBC, 13 Sep. 2024

Zambada’s arrest has touched off fighting in Mexico between rival factions in the Sinaloa cartel. —Jennifer Peltz, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2024

In 2017, four people were killed and 11 houses were destroyed after a landslide touched off a tsunami that struck the village of Nuugaatsiaq in west Greenland. —Evan Bush, NBC News, 12 Sep. 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