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
For The Brands That Will Win This is a defining moment.
—
Adrien Menard, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
The defining moment of being a Gen Xer, after all, was Kurt Cobain’s suicide in 1994.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 2025
The future remains unwritten, but the events of July 13, 2024, will forever be a defining moment in the nation's history.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
And the defining moment of the Marlins’ 8-3 comeback win at loanDepot park ultimately belonged to a 5-foot-7, 150-pound utility man who stepped in the batter’s box after Luzardo exited in the sixth.
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defining moment
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.
Adrien Menard, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
The defining moment of being a Gen Xer, after all, was Kurt Cobain’s suicide in 1994.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 2025
The future remains unwritten, but the events of July 13, 2024, will forever be a defining moment in the nation's history.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
And the defining moment of the Marlins’ 8-3 comeback win at loanDepot park ultimately belonged to a 5-foot-7, 150-pound utility man who stepped in the batter’s box after Luzardo exited in the sixth.
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025
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 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share