What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ignite
Example
He used a match to ignite the candles on the birthday cake. [ignite: verb]
Example
The spark from the lighter ignited the gas stove. [ignited: past tense]
Example
The speech ignited a passion for change in the audience. [ignite: verb]
trigger
Example
The trigger on the gun was pulled, and the bullet was fired. [trigger: noun]
Example
The sound of fireworks triggered memories of her childhood. [triggered: past tense]
Example
The new policy triggered a wave of protests from the employees. [trigger: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Trigger is more commonly used than ignite in everyday language. Trigger is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while ignite is less common and is typically used in the context of fire or combustion.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ignite and trigger?
Both ignite and trigger can be used in formal and informal contexts, but ignite may be more commonly used in technical or scientific contexts due to its association with fire and combustion.
