hinge

American  

[hinj] / hɪndʒ /

noun

hinges plural

1. a jointed device or flexible piece on which a door, gate, shutter, lid, or other attached part turns, swings, or moves.

2. a natural anatomical joint at which motion occurs around a transverse axis, as that of the knee or a bivalve shell.

3. that on which something is based or depends; pivotal consideration or factor.

4. Also called mount.  Philately. a gummed sticker for affixing a stamp to a page of an album, so folded as to form a hinge, allowing the stamp to be raised to reveal the text beneath.

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verb (used without object)

hinges, present (3rd person singular) hinged, past participle, past hinging present participle

1. to be dependent or contingent on, or as if on, a hinge (usually followed by on orupon ).

   Everything hinges on his decision.

   Synonyms:

   depend, pivot, swing, rest

verb (used with object)

hinges, present (3rd person singular) hinged, past participle, past hinging present participle

1. to furnish with or attach by a hinge or hinges.

2. to attach as if by a hinge.

3. to make or consider as dependent upon; predicate.

   He hinged his action on future sales.

hinge British  

/ hɪndʒ /

noun

1. a device for holding together two parts such that one can swing relative to the other, typically having two interlocking metal leaves held by a pin about which they pivot

2. Technical name: ginglymus.  anatomy a type of joint, such as the knee joint, that moves only backwards and forwards; a joint that functions in only one plane

3. a similar structure in invertebrate animals, such as the joint between the two halves of a bivalve shell

4. something on which events, opinions, etc, turn

5. Also called: mount.  philately a small thin transparent strip of gummed paper for affixing a stamp to a page

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verb

1. (tr) to attach or fit a hinge to (something)

2. (intr; usually foll by on or upon) to depend (on)

3. (intr) to hang or turn on or as if on a hinge

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• rehinge
  verb (used with object)
• hinged
  adjective
• hingeless
  adjective
• hingelike
  adjective
• well-hinged
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• hinges
  plural

Participles

• hinging
  present
• hinged
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• hinge
  simple
• hinges
  simple
• have hinged
  perfect
• has hinged
  perfect
• am hinging
  progressive
• are hinging
  progressive
• is hinging
  progressive
• have been hinging
  perfect progressive
• has been hinging
  perfect progressive

Past

• hinged
  simple
• had hinged
  perfect
• was hinging
  progressive
• were hinging
  progressive
• had been hinging
  perfect progressive

Future

• will hinge
  simple
• will have hinged
  perfect
• will be hinging
  progressive
• will have been hinging
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of hinge

1250–1300; Middle English henge; cognate with Low German heng ( e ), Middle Dutch henge hinge; akin to hang

Explanation

A hinge is a type of joint that attaches two things together while allowing for limited movement. A door hinge fastens the door to the wall and lets the door swing open. A hinge is a joint that holds two pieces of something together while allowing one piece to move in a swinging motion. When used as a verb, hinge can mean "to attach a hinge." Hinge can also be used to indicate that one key event depends on another, as in “The athlete’s future with the team will hinge on his performance at tonight’s game” or “The success of this product hinges on how many units are sold this month.”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hinge hinges hinged hinging

Their compensation can hinge on meeting certain milestones, such as scoring a certain number of goals, which can make their income streams less predictable than a regular paycheck.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026

Harry Brook appears favourite to be named as Test captain, though that appointment could now hinge on the identity of the next head coach.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

The outcome would hinge on the decision of the two board members who did not indicate how they were leaning.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026

“The direction of the market’s travel from here could hinge on whether rates stabilize and incoming data confirms that growth can hold without reigniting inflation,” said Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise.

From Barron's ● May 27, 2026

Bigwig got his teeth to the hinge and pulled.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

But, increasingly, the company’s future hinges on live events.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026

So a company’s return-on-investment hinges on the rate at which that young employee learns.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

Her affection hinges on David’s ability ot act like Martin, on how well he can fill that space that looks eerily like her biological son.

From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026

“Best and Last’s” intro splat-tacular, typically a highlight of each film, hinges on the posse standing still on a moving floor.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

One gentle push and the small iron door swung slowly open on its greased hinges.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

With a preliminary memorandum of understanding triggering a 60-day period for negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, the health of the global economy is no longer hinged on price swings, they added.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 26, 2026

Following the latest round of US-brokered talks in Washington on Wednesday, envoys from Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a ceasefire that hinged on Iran-backed Hezbollah halting its attacks.

From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 2026

The success of D-day, a pivotal moment in World War II, partially hinged on the weather forecast.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026

However, Judge Nicholas Rimmer said that estimate hinged on multiple hypotheticals and therefore reduced the value to £340,000.

From BBC ● May 22, 2026

Because of the tight quarters—the whole house would have fit in Aunt Ivy’s parlor—the bed had been hinged to the wall.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

Underlying SpaceX’s record-breaking initial public offering is an equally jaw-dropping set of financial projections hinging on future markets like orbital data centers, space tourism, asteroid mining and more.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 6, 2026

It feels like a relic from a bygone age of simplicity: an entire season of reality TV hinging on the social lives of a group of unpolished teenagers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2026

For now, economists expect the bank to remain in a wait-and-see mode and hold rates at a meeting later Thursday, with the outlook hinging on how long the Middle East conflict persists.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026

"Yet maintaining that dominance is perhaps more uncertain than ever, hinging on the right calls around pricing and developing the next generation of devices, particularly wearables and the anticipated foldable iPhone."

From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026

The Chancellor leans over her, hinging rigidly at her waist like a stick bug.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

Related Words

• depend
• revolve around