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
Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2025
That includes a camera button on the top edge near the hinge, and a touch-sensitive control strip identified by a thin ridge on the outside surface.
—PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2025
But Gakpo’s final chance — by far the biggest — is the one on which the game hinged.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hinge
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.
Noun
Fabio uses music like a hinge between years, from disco to classical to love songs.
—Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2025
That includes a camera button on the top edge near the hinge, and a touch-sensitive control strip identified by a thin ridge on the outside surface.
—PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
The tree features hinged branches, making setup and teardown straightforward (just push each hinge down and pop into a storage bag).
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2025
But Gakpo’s final chance — by far the biggest — is the one on which the game hinged.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hinge
Cite this Entry
“Hinge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hinge. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share