plural pivots
1
: a shaft or pin on which something turns
2
a
: a person, thing, or factor having a major or central role, function, or effect
b
: a key player or position
specifically
: an offensive position of a basketball player standing usually with back to the basket to relay passes, shoot, or provide a screen for teammates
3
: the action of pivoting
especially
: the action in basketball of stepping with one foot while keeping the other foot at its point of contact with the floor
4
: a usually marked change
The idea of allowing a [marijuana] dispensary in the city is a pivot from the stance previously held by the council, which voted in early 2018 to ban sales in the city.—
Katie Sobko
Katie Sobko
especially
: an adjustment or modification made (as to a product, service, or strategy) in order to adapt or improve
A global pandemic strikes a business. The adaptable owner assesses the situation, predicts the future, and starts their pivot. —Jodie Cook
Jodie Cook The company even redesigned its logo to look more like an electrical plug to emphasize its pivot to battery-powered vehicles. —Andrew J. Hawkins
Andrew J. Hawkins The debate around the use of tools to track employee productivity has grown since the pivot to remote work in 2020. —Owen Hughes
Owen Hughes The pivot to virtual learning impacted income and occupancy rates of hotels at colleges … —Melissa Angell
Melissa Angell
pivoted; pivoting; pivots
1
: to turn on or as if on a pivot
a TV stand that pivots
She pivoted on her heel and stalked out of the room.
(figurative) The plot pivots on the discovery that Emily, who had for years been presumed dead, is found alive.—Debi Enker and Melinda Houston
Debi Enker and Melinda Houston2
: to adapt or improve by adjusting or modifying something (such as a product, service, or strategy)
In my first product business, I didn't know when to pivot and lost everything as a result. When your output (money) exceeds your input, or you can't afford to pay yourself, it's time to pivot.—India Gary-Martin
India Gary-MartinRestauranteur Jordan Rulloda has been grinding through this pandemic. … Rulloda says he and his small team have pivoted the best they can.—Lyndsay Morrison
Lyndsay MorrisonThe city famed for steel mills that powered America's industrial rise has steadily pivoted toward technology and health care …—Jonathan Lemire et al.
Jonathan Lemire et al.1
: to provide with, mount on, or attach by a pivot
a pivoted mechanism
2
: to cause to pivot
pivoted the camera
3
: to adapt or improve by adjusting or modifying (something, such as a product, service, or strategy)
Pharmacies have pivoted their businesses to meet the demands of mass vaccination services …—Nick Thayer
Nick Thayer… many organizations have pivoted their operations by taking services online to adapt to current conditions and strengthen business resiliency.—Desmond Nair
Desmond Nair… sales departments have pivoted the way they're restaffing and handling sales meetings—rather than putting 100 workers back out in the field, they're deploying their teams in strategic ways and outsourcing sales until they hire again.—Zeenath Kuraisha
Zeenath Kuraisha
Did you know?
Pivot is a French borrowing that slowly evolved grammatically in the English language. It began as a noun in the 14th century designating a shaft or pin on which something turns ("The chair turns on a pivot"). Later it was applied to any central person or thing around which action revolves. The noun then came to denote the action of turning about, oscillating, or balancing on or as if on a point ("the pivot of the golfer's body"; "a pivot in advertising strategy"). Adjectival use followed, always functioning as a synonym of the derivative pivotal describing things that are the pivot, that are vitally important or critical ("a pivot decision"). The word evolved yet again in the 19th century to become a verb indicating the act of turning, literally and figuratively, about a point ("The player pivoted and passed the ball"; "The plot pivots on revenge"). In wider extended use, it can imply a change of direction ("The company pivoted towards marketing remote learning tools and resources").
Examples of pivot in a Sentence
Noun
an issue that is the real pivot of the controversy
Verb
The dancers pivoted on their toes and changed direction.
The door hinge pivots around the pin.
The quarterback pivoted and threw the ball to the running back.
Recent Examples on the Web
George Toh, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Unlike global conglomerates, these companies often lack the cash reserves, lobbying muscle or supply-chain flexibility to absorb steep tariff hikes or pivot production.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 1 July 2025
Carrie Johnson, NPR, 25 June 2025
The most important strategy is to remain flexible and pivot resources to address immediate needs and quell the crisis with the support of your partners and members.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2025
Crown had already begun leasing space in the Foundry building for another project but pivoted late last summer to showcase a menu that chef and co-owner Anthony Sitek had on the back burner.
—Sydney Franklin, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pivot
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Even slight changes to viewing angles can have significant long-term health benefits.
Options such as height, tilt, swivel and pivot can help create an optimal personalized gaming setup for each gamer, avoiding discomfort even after intense gaming sessions.
—George Toh, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Unlike global conglomerates, these companies often lack the cash reserves, lobbying muscle or supply-chain flexibility to absorb steep tariff hikes or pivot production.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 1 July 2025
Adjective
But his nomination also could represent a pivot point in Trump's approach to the judiciary.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 25 June 2025
The most important strategy is to remain flexible and pivot resources to address immediate needs and quell the crisis with the support of your partners and members.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
When the job of a door-to-door encyclopedia salesman was disrupted because of the rise of online search, those workers pivoted to selling other products, Colella said.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2025
Crown had already begun leasing space in the Foundry building for another project but pivoted late last summer to showcase a menu that chef and co-owner Anthony Sitek had on the back burner.
—Sydney Franklin, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pivot
Cite this Entry
“Pivot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pivot. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pivot
1 of 2 noun
piv·ot
ˈpiv-ət 
1
: a shaft or pin on which something turns
2
: something on which something else turns or depends : a central member, part, or point
pivot
2 of 2 verb1
: to turn on or as if on a pivot
the guns are mounted in such a way as to pivot easily
the future pivots on what is done today
2
: to provide with, mount on, or attach by a pivot
Medical Definition
pivot
noun
piv·ot
ˈpiv-ət
: a usually metallic pin holding an artificial crown to the root of a tooth
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