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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While Rai's 70-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole will understandably garner tons of attention for days to come, his birdie on the drivable par-4 13th hole was, up to this point, the defining moment of his career. Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026 The defining moment came at the par-3 17th, where Rai buried a stunning 68-foot birdie putt that effectively sealed the championship and punctuated a career-defining victory. Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 The defining moment of the Wizards’ 2025-26 season will no longer be Bam Adebayo’s scoring 83 points against them. David Aldridge, New York Times, 11 May 2026 Advertisement Pulisic brought that intensity to bear at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in what would become his defining moment. Sean Gregory, Time, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for defining moment

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Defining moment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defining%20moment. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster