Illustration of hinge
- hinge 1a
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
hinged; hinging
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
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
Andrea Bartz2
: to be contingent on a single consideration or point
—used with on or upon
the prosecution's case hinges on the DNA evidence
: to attach by or furnish with hinges
Examples of hinge in a Sentence
Verb
the outcome of the game hinged on a single play
Recent Examples on the Web
Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 10 June 2026
Keeping your chest up and your back flat, hinge at your hips, bend your knees, and lower your butt into a squat.
—Jenessa Connor, Health, 5 June 2026
Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 5 June 2026
Rubio said Iran has not made any concessions on its nuclear program that satisfy Washington and added that sanctions relief will hinge on Iran giving up its enriched uranium and dismantling its nuclear program.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hinge
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Noun
The hinge pivots at approximately 130 degrees, The Verge reported today.
—Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 10 June 2026
Keeping your chest up and your back flat, hinge at your hips, bend your knees, and lower your butt into a squat.
—Jenessa Connor, Health, 5 June 2026
Verb
The ceasefire hinged on an end to Hezbollah attacks, but the group was not party to the talks and its leader rejected the pact.
—Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 5 June 2026
Rubio said Iran has not made any concessions on its nuclear program that satisfy Washington and added that sanctions relief will hinge on Iran giving up its enriched uranium and dismantling its nuclear program.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hinge
Cite this Entry
“Hinge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hinge. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hinge
1 of 2 noun1
: a jointed piece on which a door, lid, or other swinging part turns
2
: the joint between valves of a bivalve's shell
hinge
2 of 2 verb
hinged; hinging
1
: to attach by or provide with hinges
2
: to hang or turn as if on a hinge : depend
our success hinges on this decision
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