defining moment
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of defining moment
First recorded in 1980–85
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“This is the defining moment for EnergyX,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
Murdoch called the proposed purchase “a defining moment for Fox.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
The defining moment in Victor Marx’s surreal quest to be Colorado’s governor came a few weeks ago, during a rare sit-down interview with a journalist.
From Slate ● Jun. 29, 2026
A defining moment in their meeting is when Ruth reads part of a Tennessee Williams quote rendered in cross-stitch.
From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2026
My time in Brooklyn had become a defining moment for me.
From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
