Illustration of hinge
- hinge 1a
1
a
: a jointed or flexible device on which a door, lid, or other swinging part turns
b
: a flexible ligamentous joint
c
: a small piece of thin gummed paper used in fastening a postage stamp in an album
2
: a determining factor : turning point
hinged; hinging
1
: to swing on or as if on a hinge
These thoughtful amenities include … an outdoor patio TV that hinges outward toward the pool …—
Paul Takahashi
Paul Takahashi… we pulled within feet of a 12-foot crocodile, his huge jaw hinging open in warning to reveal a toothy grin.—Andrea Bartz
Andrea Bartz2
: to be contingent on a single consideration or point
—used with on or upon
the prosecution's case hinges on the DNA evidence
: to attach by or furnish with hinges
Examples of hinge in a Sentence
Verb
the outcome of the game hinged on a single play
Recent Examples on the Web
New Atlas, 27 July 2025
The hinges are engineered to survive hundreds of thousands of folds, which maths out to up to a decade of opening and closing more than a few times a day.
—Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025
Achal Singi, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Hamilton only plans to use pre-1970 Minis for CCT builds, which means sliding side windows and external door hinges for a reassuringly retro look.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hinge
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Noun
The hinge system demands Swiss-grade machining precision, with tolerances as tight as ±0.02mm.
—New Atlas, 27 July 2025
The hinges are engineered to survive hundreds of thousands of folds, which maths out to up to a decade of opening and closing more than a few times a day.
—Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025
Verb
Going forward, product differentiation in AI will hinge almost entirely on who owns or controls unique data streams.
—Achal Singi, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Hamilton only plans to use pre-1970 Minis for CCT builds, which means sliding side windows and external door hinges for a reassuringly retro look.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hinge
Cite this Entry
“Hinge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hinge. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hinge
1 of 2 noun1
: a jointed piece on which a door, lid, or other swinging part turns
2
: the joint between valves of a bivalve's shell
hinge
2 of 2 verb
hinged; hinging
1
: to attach by or provide with hinges
2
: to hang or turn as if on a hinge : depend
our success hinges on this decision
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