hinge

noun \ ˈhinj \

Updated on: 18 May 2018

Definition of hinge

1 a : 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

See hinge defined for English-language learners

See hinge defined for kids

Recent Examples of hinge from the Web

Pregnancy is always a transformative experience, physically and emotionally, but Williams’s livelihood—and identity, as the documentary shows—hinge on her singularly peak performance.

— sonia saraiya, HWD, "We’ve Never Seen an Athlete’s Story Quite Like Serena Williams’ HBO Docuseries," 2 May 2018
DP World is the company’s biggest investor, and Virgin Hyperloop One’s fate hinges on getting a green light from the Emirate.

— andrew j. hawkins, The Verge, "The hyperloop is perpetually just ‘three years away’," 30 Apr. 2018
Approved fire doors didn’t exist, and two second-floor fire doors that could have kept smoke from spreading were off their hinges because new carpeting had been laid and the doors didn’t fit over it.

— New York Times, "Never Solved, a College Dorm Fire Has Become One Man’s Obsession," 13 Apr. 2018
The answer to whether the stings are racially biased hinges in large part on competing interpretations of statistics.

— Washington Post, "US judge: Fake ATF stings should become a relic of the past," 12 Mar. 2018
An old washboard, a vintage wooden ironing board (that supports the work), old hinges and more are mixed with images of people -- some identifiable, others not.

— thom duffy, Billboard, "John Mellencamp's Art Exhibit 'Life, Death, Love and Freedom' Opens in New York," 28 Apr. 2018
Wright argues, persuasively, that the hinge of the national view of Texas was the Kennedy assassination.

— david m. shribman, BostonGlobe.com, "Why Texas matters," 13 Apr. 2018
PCWorld’s Hayden Dingman has complained about the space taken up by the ventilation system behind the lid hinge.

— melissa riofrio, PCWorld, "The Alienware 15 and Alienware 17 pack 6-core Intel overclockable goodness," 3 Apr. 2018
The hinges were removed from the door to get in between Jan. 28 and Feb. 11.

— jane ford-stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Car's hood doused with gasoline and lighted in West Allis," 14 Feb. 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.

Illustration of hinge

Origin and Etymology of hinge

Middle English heng; akin to Middle Dutch henge hook, Old English hangian to hang

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

hinge

verb

Definition of hinge

hinged; hinging

intransitive verb

: 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

See hinge defined for English-language learners

Examples of hinge in a Sentence

the outcome of the game hinged on a single play

Recent Examples of hinge from the Web

In making these moves, Trump's decision-making seems to hinge on the concerns of his domestic audience, hoping to stoke his base, get positive headlines and differentiate himself from his political predecessors.

— adam taylor, Washington Post, "Trump’s ‘buy now, pay later’ foreign policy," 14 May 2018
After a life in the shadows, Gina Haspel, President Trump's nominee to run the CIA, will face the bright lights of a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday that is expected to hinge on questions about her role in post-Sept.

— chris megerian, latimes.com, "Gina Haspel will face a tough Senate confirmation hearing to run the CIA," 9 May 2018
That test hinged on roughly 10 factors, like the amount of supervision and whether the worker could be fired without cause.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "California Court Ruling Could Be Major Blow to ‘Gig Economy’ Firms," 1 May 2018
But given Trump's polarizing administration, the results this fall are likely to hinge more than ever on the man in the White House.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Trump dismisses midterm threat, alarming GOP," 28 Apr. 2018
TesseracT’s new collection, Sonder (Apr.20, Kscope), hinges on the idea of understanding that while our own existences are vivid and complex, so are everyone else’s in the world.

— christa titus, Billboard, "Exclusive: Listen to a New Version of TesseracT's Intense 'Smile'," 16 Apr. 2018
Whether fans enter the offseason warm to the idea of Franks under center for another season hinges on this performance.

— edgar thompson, OrlandoSentinel.com, "UF starting QB battle among top five questions Gators face entering spring game," 13 Apr. 2018
But his advanced mental capacity for a true freshman was what ultimately got the staff's attention, got him on the field and forced Michigan to hinge its future plans on his shoulders.

— nick baumgardner, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan football hoping Cesar Ruiz is first answer to complex OL puzzle," 10 Apr. 2018
However, any move for the West Ham man is expected to hinge on Sam Allardyce's future.

— SI.com, "Everton Plotting Summer Move for West Ham Man to Compete With Injury-Prone Star," 8 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of hinge

1719

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

hinge Synonyms

Synonyms

depend, hang, ride, turn;

Related Words

base, establish, found, rest, stay;

ground;

HINGE Defined for English Language Learners

hinge

noun

Definition of hinge for English Language Learners

: a usually metal piece that attaches a door, gate, or cover to something and allows it to open and close

hinge

verb

Definition of hinge for English Language Learners

: to attach (a door, gate, or cover) by hinges

HINGE Defined for Kids

hinge

noun \ ˈhinj \

Definition of hinge for Students

: a jointed piece on which a door, gate, or lid turns or swings

hinge

verb

Definition of hinge for Students

hinged; hinging

: to attach by or provide with hinges

— hinge on

: to be determined or decided by

Our plans hinge on the weather.

Learn More about hinge

See words that rhyme with hinge Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hinge Spanish Central: Translation of hinge Nglish: Translation of hinge for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of hinge for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hinge

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up hinge? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

hinge

Definition of hinge

Recent Examples of hinge from the Web

Illustration of hinge

Origin and Etymology of hinge

Other Anatomy Terms

hinge

Definition of hinge

Examples of hinge in a Sentence

Recent Examples of hinge from the Web

First Known Use of hinge

hinge Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to HINGE

Related Phrases

HINGE Defined for English Language Learners

hinge

Definition of hinge for English Language Learners

hinge

Definition of hinge for English Language Learners

HINGE Defined for Kids

hinge

Definition of hinge for Students

hinge

Definition of hinge for Students

Learn More about hinge

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

9 Words from the Magical Realm

A Field Guide to British Noble Titles

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word