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.

---

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

---

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

Android competitors offer larger inner display areas, but Apple focuses heavily on the quality of the hinge and concealing the crease where the phone folds rather than sheer screen real estate, analysts say.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

"In the case of the Green Party motion, compliance with the Equality Act is likely to hinge on the practical effects of the motion," the spokesperson added.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

Those sales hinge on GEO Group’s ability to continue managing those facilities under long-term contracts, the company wrote.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026

Tom Hanks’ directorial debut, which was released to critical praise but was a box office disappointment, doesn’t hinge on the charming, passable performances of its lead actors.

From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026

I swear, that garage looked like it was going to fall right over, tilting sideways with the door hanging off one hinge.

From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor

Climaxing in a tense court case that hinges on what constitutes a slap, “Fjord” explores clashing cultures and mutual distrust, leaving us unsure how to feel.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

While the circumstances are very different, Norris' supporters also argue that his case hinges on disputed interpretations of medical evidence.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

Investor payouts, and the return of principal, ultimately hinges on how the underlying reference asset trades compared with predetermined levels.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

Texas Stock Exchange’s audacious plan to challenge Wall Street’s financial dominance hinges on convincing companies to ditch their New York listings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

On the piece that he cut out he fastened leather hinges; then he fitted it into place, and that was the little door, with the bark still on it.

From "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

The crossover event between Disney-owned ABC and Hulu was an attempt at synergy casting that hinged on Paul to boost curiosity across both series.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

This was also the argument that her appeal hinged on.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Lane’s alibi hinged on whether anyone had seen the sisters alive after his return to rehab.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

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

The second reconciliation—between genetics and evolution—required more than mathematical modeling; it hinged on experimental data.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

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

Holiday shopping choices always blend financial reality and emotions, hinging on the question of how much money people believe they can afford to spend on friends, family and themselves.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 26, 2025

Never have the stakes been so high for Riley than they are this week, as No. 15 USC heads to No. 8 Oregon with its College Football Playoff hopes hinging on a huge road victory.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 21, 2025

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

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• depend
• revolve around

---