pivotal

adjective

piv·​ot·​al ˈpi-və-tᵊl How to pronounce pivotal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or constituting a pivot
2
: vitally important : critical
pivotally adverb

Examples of pivotal in a Sentence

She is at a pivotal point in her career. the report was missing a pivotal piece of information
Recent Examples on the Web The track plays at a pivotal moment in the movie when Barbie questions what her purpose is. Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024 In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2009, Madonna looked back on the Virgin Tour as a pivotal moment in her rise to global superstardom. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 9 Mar. 2024 Yet women and people of color were pivotal to the complex movement, as curator María Elena Ortiz, an expert in the art of Latin America, the Caribbean and United States, shows. James Russell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024 Looking back on that pivotal moment, CT says he wasn't really hurt by Trishelle's almost betrayal. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2024 In her debut book, Tendler recounts her hospital experience as well as pivotal moments in her life that preceded and followed. Anna Tingley, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 This moment follows a pivotal scene from the story in which Mowgli escorts a herd of buffalo home after using them to kill his enemy, the tiger Shere Khan, in a stampede. Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 What is a pivotal moment that’s shaped you as an executive? Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024 In navigating the evolving landscape of regulatory reforms, intensifying competition and escalating pricing pressures, health plans stand at a pivotal juncture where the accuracy and currency of provider data emerge as central tenets for their survival. Tammy Hawes, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pivotal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of pivotal was in 1838

Dictionary Entries Near pivotal

Cite this Entry

“Pivotal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pivotal. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pivotal

adjective
piv·​ot·​al ˈpiv-ət-ᵊl How to pronounce pivotal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or functioning as a pivot
2
: extremely important : critical
a pivotal discovery
pivotally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on pivotal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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