pivotal
Americanadjective
-
of, involving, or acting as a pivot
-
of crucial importance
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pivotal
Explanation
High school graduation is a pivotal moment in most people's lives — an important point that signifies a shift in direction. You see the word pivot in pivotal. That is because when something is pivotal, it is central, and everything related to the topic turns or depends on it. An election can be a pivotal moment in a nation's history if the direction the country takes depends on it. Your belief in reincarnation may be pivotal to how you treat animals. Pivotal means important, but it has the sense of centrality and turning.
Vocabulary lists containing pivotal
ASVAB Word Knowledge
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This Week in Words: September 25 - October 1, 2017
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Unit 2: Pivotal Words and Phrases
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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.
Ellison, in recent months, has signaled his intention to install Bloys in a pivotal role at the combined company.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
Brazil plays a pivotal role in the fight against climate change as home to much of the Amazon rainforest.
From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026
Tharpe, whose guitar work helped shape artists including Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley and Little Richard, was "pivotal" to the emergence of rock'n'roll, Phillips said.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
"Knowing the risks, we are in a much better position to prevent harm to children treated with GLP-1s during a pivotal period in their lives."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 24, 2026
I wave back and then close my eyes to take stock of my situation, because jumping off a cliff seems like a pivotal moment where a little stock-taking should be done.
From "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon
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.
