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
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
In the conversation that follows, Big Boss Vette meets her defining moment head-on.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 30 Jan. 2026
Her original video racked up over 113 million views, and the brand later featured her jingle in a national commercial, turning what began as a casual post into a career-defining moment.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Bobcats guard Mark Drone dribbled into a high ball screen on the right side of the floor; the team's lead bucket-getter smelled an opportunity for a career-defining moment.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
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Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
In the conversation that follows, Big Boss Vette meets her defining moment head-on.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 30 Jan. 2026
Her original video racked up over 113 million views, and the brand later featured her jingle in a national commercial, turning what began as a casual post into a career-defining moment.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Bobcats guard Mark Drone dribbled into a high ball screen on the right side of the floor; the team's lead bucket-getter smelled an opportunity for a career-defining moment.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 29 Jan. 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 11 Feb. 2026.
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