trigger memories

USAGE SUMMARY

"trigger memories" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to evoke or bring forth memories. You can use this phrase in a variety of situations where something reminds you of a past memory or experience. For example: - The smell of freshly baked cookies always triggers fond memories of my grandmother's kitchen. - The old photograph in the attic triggered a flood of memories from my childhood. - The song playing on the radio triggered memories of my first love. - As I walked through the familiar streets of my hometown, it triggered happy memories of growing up in that neighborhood.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Among the topics they will cover: Can smells trigger memories?

The New York Times - Arts

"They have been described as emotional landscapes in that they trigger memories of places and times".

The New York Times

Finally, the ad seems designed to trigger memories of the Wagnerian iconography of Hitler's Germany.

The New Yorker

Novels also trigger memories from a reader's personal experience, and these give writers ideas for their own stories.

The Guardian - Books

But what about all those healing gardens that are supposed to trigger memories and comfort a tortured mind?

The New York Times

It was just a normal slideshow, not overproduced, not overdone, intended to trigger memories rather than replace them.

The New Yorker

Lucy is given bits and routines that are clearly designed to trigger memories of past bits and routines.

The New York Times - Arts

Environmental cues often trigger memories of past events (associative retrieval), and these memories are a form of prediction about imminent experience.

Stanford University

Even as search engines improve, he expects that people will still need to rely on what he calls interventions that trigger memories of a Web page seen before.

The New York Times - Tech

To trigger memories of a gig, I first ask: "What did I eat?" Unless I'm really busy, I don't stop thinking about food.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They may start at loud noises, sleep badly, strike out in irrational anger or try to avoid places or people that trigger memories.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "trigger memories" when you want to emphasize that something specific caused a memory to surface, rather than just recalling something in general.

Common error

Avoid using "trigger memories" when you just mean to say someone remembered something. "Trigger memories" implies a specific stimulus caused the memory to appear, while "remembering" is a more general act of recall.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trigger memories" functions as a verb phrase, where "trigger" acts as a transitive verb taking "memories" as its direct object. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to describe the action of something causing memories to surface.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

16%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "trigger memories" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of something causing memories to surface. As Ludwig AI points out, it effectively conveys the idea of a stimulus prompting recollection. It appears frequently in "News & Media", academic, and scientific contexts, indicating its versatility. While alternatives like "evoke memories" or "stir up memories" exist, "trigger memories" is a direct and widely understood way to express this concept. Remember to use it when there is a clear stimulus causing the recall, not just general remembering.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evoke memories

Focuses on the act of bringing memories to the surface.

spark memories

Similar to "trigger", but emphasizes a sudden and immediate effect.

stir up memories

Implies a more active and potentially emotional arousal of memories.

call forth memories

Suggests a deliberate attempt to retrieve memories.

bring back memories

Emphasizes the return of memories from the past.

elicit memories

Focuses on drawing out memories from someone or something.

rekindle memories

Implies a revival of memories that were fading.

prompt memories

Suggests a subtle encouragement for memories to emerge.

awaken memories

Implies a gentle stirring of memories from a dormant state.

conjure up memories

Suggests a magical or imaginative process of bringing memories to mind.

FAQs

How can I use "trigger memories" in a sentence?

You can use "trigger memories" to describe how a particular stimulus evokes a past recollection. For example, "The smell of the old book triggered memories of my childhood library."

What's a good alternative to "trigger memories"?

Alternatives include "evoke memories", "stir up memories", or "bring back memories", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "triggered a memory" instead of "trigger memories"?

While grammatically correct, "triggered a memory" is less common. "Trigger memories" is typically used when referring to a general capacity to evoke multiple or recurring memories, while "triggered a memory" refers to a single, specific instance.

What kinds of things can "trigger memories"?

Smells, sounds, sights, tastes, and even emotions can "trigger memories". Anything associated with a past experience has the potential to bring it back to mind.