defining moment
noun
: the time that shows very clearly what something is really about
That was the campaign's defining moment.
Examples of defining moment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If City goes on to win a seventh title in nine years, its dramatic 2-1 victory against Liverpool will likely go down as the defining moment of the season.
—
ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
Despite the uproar, experts said the salute by Smith and Carlos was a defining moment for Black people, galvanizing the Civil Rights Movement.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Since its 2025 premiere at Sundance, the film and Byrne’s performance have had extraordinary legs (yes, pun intended) — a career-defining moment that Byrne is still processing.
—Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
The defining moment of that NBA Finals series came in Game 3 — with Miami already down 2-0 in the series — when Wade scored 12 points in the final seven minutes to rally the Heat from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
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ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
Despite the uproar, experts said the salute by Smith and Carlos was a defining moment for Black people, galvanizing the Civil Rights Movement.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Since its 2025 premiere at Sundance, the film and Byrne’s performance have had extraordinary legs (yes, pun intended) — a career-defining moment that Byrne is still processing.
—Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
The defining moment of that NBA Finals series came in Game 3 — with Miami already down 2-0 in the series — when Wade scored 12 points in the final seven minutes to rally the Heat from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defining moment
Cite this Entry
“Defining moment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defining%20moment. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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