Illustration of hinge
- hinge 1a
1
a
: a jointed or flexible device on which a door, lid, or other swinging part turns
b
: a flexible ligamentous joint
c
: a small piece of thin gummed paper used in fastening a postage stamp in an album
2
: a determining factor : turning point
hinged; hinging
1
: to swing on or as if on a hinge
These thoughtful amenities include … an outdoor patio TV that hinges outward toward the pool …—
Paul Takahashi
Paul Takahashi… we pulled within feet of a 12-foot crocodile, his huge jaw hinging open in warning to reveal a toothy grin.—Andrea Bartz
Andrea Bartz2
: to be contingent on a single consideration or point
—used with on or upon
the prosecution's case hinges on the DNA evidence
: to attach by or furnish with hinges
Examples of hinge in a Sentence
Verb
the outcome of the game hinged on a single play
Recent Examples on the Web
Noah Rothman, National Review, 14 May 2025
Unlike most finance jobs, success in collections hinges primarily on persistence without aggression and the ability to turn confrontations into friendly collaborations.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2025
About 20 women, many of whom looked like aspiring actors, knelt on the numbered panels, while hinging at the waist and pulling a cable to execute a tricep press.
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hinge
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Noun
Donald Trump’s first major trip abroad since retaking the oath of office may be remembered as a hinge moment and a seismic shift in Middle Eastern regional politics.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 14 May 2025
Unlike most finance jobs, success in collections hinges primarily on persistence without aggression and the ability to turn confrontations into friendly collaborations.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Verb
By all accounts, offseason trade machinations didn’t hinge solely on Podziemski.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2025
About 20 women, many of whom looked like aspiring actors, knelt on the numbered panels, while hinging at the waist and pulling a cable to execute a tricep press.
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hinge
Cite this Entry
“Hinge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hinge. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hinge
1 of 2 noun1
: a jointed piece on which a door, lid, or other swinging part turns
2
: the joint between valves of a bivalve's shell
hinge
2 of 2 verb
hinged; hinging
1
: to attach by or provide with hinges
2
: to hang or turn as if on a hinge : depend
our success hinges on this decision
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