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.
For Ai Lin, a defining moment came when humanoid robots took the stage with millions watching at last year’s Spring Festival Gala. John Liu, CNN Money, 30 June 2026 Reflecting on the show’s run, White couldn’t choose just one defining moment. Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026 Against Belgium, Beiranvand was on the ground and picked himself up to produce a defining moment. Colin Millar, New York Times, 27 June 2026 The episode became a defining moment in the split between Sunni and Shiite Islam. ABC News, 25 June 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 4 Jul. 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