pivot

[ piv-uht ]

/ ˈpɪv ət /

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See synonyms for: pivot / pivoted on Thesaurus.com

noun

a pin, point, or short shaft on the end of which something rests and turns, or upon and about which something rotates or oscillates.

the end of a shaft or arbor, resting and turning in a bearing.

any thing or person on which something or someone functions or depends vitally: He is the pivot of my life.

the person in a line, as of troops on parade, whom the others use as a point about which to wheel or maneuver.

a whirling about on one foot.

a change in policy, opinion, product design, etc., that retains some continuity with its previous version, especially as part of a strategy to appeal to a different audience:a pivot in public policy;the administration’s pivot toward Asia; multiple product pivots to reach new consumers.

Basketball. the act of keeping one foot in place while holding the ball and moving the other foot one step in any direction, so as not to be charged with traveling.

Basketball.

an offensive position in the front court, usually played by the center, in which the player stands facing away from the offensive basket and serves as the pivot of the offense by setting up plays through passing, making screens, and taking shots.
Also called pivotman. the player who plays in the pivot position.

Dentistry. (formerly) dowel (def. 4).

verb (used without object)

to turn on or as on a pivot.

Basketball. to keep one foot in place while holding the ball and moving the other foot one step in any direction.

to modify a policy, opinion, product, etc., while retaining some continuity with its previous version, especially as part of a strategy to appeal to a different audience:The candidate will need to pivot on her unpopular position regarding prescription drug pricing.The studio pivoted away from gritty realism to make the film’s sequel more family-friendly.

verb (used with object)

to mount on, attach by, or provide with a pivot or pivots.

to modify (a policy, opinion, product, etc.) while retaining some continuity with its previous version:The start-up was able to pivot the app to a new market without losing too many man-hours of coding.

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Origin of pivot

First recorded in 1350–1400; <French, Middle French, Old French “hinge, pivot”; further origin uncertain, perhaps related to Catalan piu, Occitan pivèu “spindle, pivot,” and Provençal pua “tooth on a heckle (flax comb)”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pivot in a sentence

In a time when our social media feeds are full of new menus, new pivots, new appeals for support, my new to-do list is a way to concentrate all that energy into something that feels slightly less paralyzing to me as a consumer.
Overwhelmed by How to Help the Restaurant Industry? Make a List.|Erin DeJesus|November 20, 2020|Eater
He marvels at the “ingenious geniuses” of both Shakespeare and the creator of the cluster bomb, and pivots again, to an unnamed “you” sitting with him for breakfast at a diner.
Eighty years of memories that will stir readers’ own|Connie Schultz|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Barnes said Vice Media’s creative teams were able to make that pivot, helping clients stay on track to make their targets through the lean months.
Deep Dive: How the future of publishing is taking shape in the ongoing coronavirus crisis era|Pierre Bienaimé|November 17, 2020|Digiday
TV companies’ streaming pivots eating into their profit margins is to be expected.
TV networks cut costs to confront shrinking profits amid streaming shift|Tim Peterson|November 11, 2020|Digiday

This is a pivot point behind you where the vehicle will move in the opposite direction when you turn.
Hints From Heloise: Be cautious when using a portable generator|Heloise Heloise|November 5, 2020|Washington Post
Then, on June 10, after ISIS captured Mosul, its messages pivoted towards the West.
ISIS is Using Social Media to Reach YOU, Its New Audience|Jacob Siegel|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The last time America pivoted to Asia was on December 7, 1941, when Japan attacked the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor.
Is Obama’s Asia Pivot More Than Talk?|Mark Perry|April 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Gogglebox, which is an hour-long, is pivoted on the newsiest British television of the week, and edited right up to broadcast.
Watching Us, Watching Them: On ‘The People’s Couch’|Tim Teeman|March 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She pivoted to slam the "lame stream media," hitting the "sock puppets" on "MS-LSD" for their biased coverage.
Sarah Palin Rewrites Dr. Seuss|Olivia Nuzzi|March 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The man pivoted on his spurred heels and came straight toward me.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He pivoted in his tracks, doubled back into the dining room, went through another door that brought him to the living room.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
The one shown was pivoted to a roller-skate wheel which in turn was fastened to a metal standard.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2|Various
To control the direction and make the model fly in a circle it is fastened to a long stick or beam which is pivoted in the center.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2|Various
But he soon pivoted and slid much faster, all in time with the sounds he drew from the harmonica.
Six Little Bunkers at Mammy June's|Laura Lee Hope
Ballard dodged one, appeared to offer the ball to the second, then pivoted and faded out to the right.
Red Dynamite|Roy J. Snell

British Dictionary definitions for pivot

pivot

/ (ˈpɪvət) /

noun

a short shaft or pin supporting something that turns; fulcrum

the end of a shaft or arbor that terminates in a bearing

a person or thing upon which progress, success, etc, depends

the person or position from which a military formation takes its reference, as when altering position

verb

(tr) to mount on or provide with a pivot or pivots

(intr) to turn on or as if on a pivot

Word Origin for pivot

C17: from Old French; perhaps related to Old Provençal pua tooth of a comb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

pivot

Origin of pivot

Words related to pivot

How to use pivot in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pivot

Word Origin for pivot