hinge

noun

\ ˈhinj

Definition of hinge

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a jointed or flexible device on which a door, lid, or other swinging part turns

b : a flexible ligamentous joint

c : a small piece of thin gummed paper used in fastening a postage stamp in an album

2 : a determining factor : turning point

hinge

verb

hinged; hinging

Definition of hinge (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to swing on or as if on a hinge These thoughtful amenities include … an outdoor patio TV that hinges outward toward the pool …— Paul Takahashi … we pulled within feet of a 12-foot crocodile, his huge jaw hinging open in warning to reveal a toothy grin.— Andrea Bartz

2 : to be contingent on a single consideration or point —used with on or upon the prosecution's case hinges on the DNA evidence

transitive verb

: to attach by or furnish with hinges

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about hinge

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Synonyms for hinge

Synonyms: Verb

depend, hang, ride, turn

Examples of hinge in a Sentence

Verb

the outcome of the game hinged on a single play

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Using a screen that spins freely between two horizontal attachment points instead of a traditional hinge, it can be positioned in a handful of novel ways. — Eric Limer, Popular Mechanics, "Bring on the Wacky Convertible Gaming Laptops," 7 Jan. 2019 Last year, Chinese device maker ZTE Corp. released a phone with a folding display called the Axon M. The device, which featured two screens separated by a hinge, sold poorly and the display was panned by critics. — Dan Strumpf, WSJ, "Smartphone Makers Seek Foldable Phones With Flex Appeal," 31 Oct. 2018 Answer: take it off while the door is still on the hinges. — Ezra Dyer, Popular Mechanics, "How Long Does It Take to Remove the Doors on a Wrangler?," 31 Dec. 2018 Most functional exercises—ones that mimic everyday movements such as squats, hip hinges (deadlifts, for example), lunges, steps-ups—stretch and strengthen your hip muscles in some way. — Amy Marturana, SELF, "12 of the Best Hip-Strengthening Exercises," 19 Oct. 2018 When shucking, most people come in through the hinge, which is an easy opening. — Todd Plummer, Vogue, "How to Find and Serve a Perfect Oyster, According to the New Englanders Who Know Best," 18 July 2018 Residents under the bombs would routinely recall being thrown through the air by the pressure waves of air mines exploding, and window casements and doors would be blown off their hinges. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "World War II bombings weakened upper atmosphere at edge of space," 25 Sep. 2018 The hip hinge helps put the spine in the proper positioning and engage the correct muscles that should be the main drivers in lower-body moves. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "Gymnast Nastia Liukin Works Her Core, Hips, and Glutes With This Exercise," 7 Aug. 2018 In another, an orange door hung on its hinges amid the charred ruins. — Jon Emont And Myo Myo, WSJ, "Rohingya Muslims Who Remain in Myanmar Struggle to Survive," 8 Aug. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Look for an option with a strong stand that won't tip over under the weight of ornaments, and hinged branches for easy set-up and storage. — Good Housekeeping, "Which Is Better: A Real or Fake Christmas Tree?," 6 Nov. 2018 In Oklahoma, the race for the GOP nomination in the race for governor could hinge on the state's geography and the candidates' allegiance to President Trump. — Fox News, "FOX NEWS FIRST: DOJ official Bruce Ohr faces the dossier hot seat; Key primaries in Arizona, Florida," 28 Aug. 2018 And with a tight electoral race looming in October, Bolsonaro’s hopes might hinge on Brazil failing to bring home a sixth World Cup title. — Martin Rogers, USA TODAY, "'Brazil's Donald Trump': World Cup fate impacts far-right presidential candidate," 6 July 2018 The verdict’s electoral impact hinges on what Mr Sharif does next. — The Economist, "The boss of Pakistan’s ruling party is sentenced to ten years in jail," 6 July 2018 This seaweed struggle, and the fate of A. nodosum itself, hinges on a single question, patently absurd yet bizarrely complex: is rockweed, in defiance of logic and biology, really a fish? — Michelle Weber, Longreads, "What Is the Hot Commodity, Exactly?," 1 June 2018 In a crowning irony, the initiative carries support from Facebook and Google, two companies that hinge on mass data collection to grow their advertising businesses, and are no strangers to leaking that sensitive information in calamitous fashion. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "Tim Berners-Lee Wants a 'Magna Carta' to Save the Modern Internet. He's Way Too Late.," 8 Nov. 2018 Shouldn’t working with women composers come to mind when commissioning music to go along with a scene that hinges on the reaction, thoughts, and experiences of a woman? — refinery29.com, "Record Scratch: Only 6% Of Your Favorite Shows Use Music Composed By Women," 1 July 2018 And two cases on political manipulation of election districts that hinged on his vote were punted on procedural grounds without a word from him. — Richard Wolf, USA TODAY, "Supreme Court's conservatives mark return to power with major rulings, minor punts," 27 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hinge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.