pivot

play

noun piv·ot \ ˈpi-vət \

Definition of pivot

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

See pivot defined for English-language learners

See pivot defined for kids

Examples of pivot in a Sentence

an issue that is the real pivot of the controversy

Recent Examples of pivot from the Web

Leave a Note Architect Tom Kundig is known for designing buildings that interact with their surroundings (think a lake house whose wall-size window pivots open via a hand crank, or a mountain home that resembles wagons around a campfire).

— Condé Nast Traveler, "Thompson Seattle," 25 Aug. 2017
The Anchorage Police Department promoted a deputy chief and two captains Wednesday, filling leadership vacancies in a move police said will help the department pivot to a sharper focus on violent crimes and drug offenses.

— devin kelly, Alaska Dispatch News, "With full leadership team in place, APD pledges focus on violence and drug crimes," 24 Aug. 2017
This type of story is emblematic of Baldwin & Lyons’ company culture, which Page explained pivots around five core principles: Being a team player, open and honest communication, trust and support, hard work and adaptability.

— stephanie walden, Indianapolis Star, "Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. goes above and beyond for its employees," 10 July 2017
For a swing, there are two fixed points: one with the swing hanging directly down, and a second with it vertical, above the pivot point.

— chris lee, Ars Technica, "At the boundary between chaos and order, order rules (eventually)," 6 July 2017
His game is still clear-out pivots and bump-back post-ups, simply established more quickly within the offense than in years past. 21.

— rob mahoney, SI.com, "NBA Free Agency 2017: Top 50 Players Available," 26 June 2017
Dan Fleser/News Sentinel Diamond DeShields' final act for the Tennessee women's basketball team was a stunning reverse pivot.

— dan fleser, The Courier-Journal, "Diamond DeShields not returning to Lady Vols," 23 June 2017
Dan Fleser/News Sentinel Diamond DeShields' final act for the Tennessee women's basketball team was a stunning reverse pivot.

— dan fleser, The Courier-Journal, "Diamond DeShields not returning to Lady Vols," 23 June 2017
Splintered Court The gerrymandering issue has splintered the Supreme Court in the past, most recently in a 2004 ruling that left Justice Anthony Kennedy as the court’s pivot point.

— greg stohr, Bloomberg.com, "Partisan Gerrymandering Will Get U.S. Supreme Court Scrutiny," 19 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of pivot

French

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

pivot Synonyms

Synonyms

bottom line, bull's-eye, centerpiece, core, essence, gist, heart, kernel, keynote, meat, meat and potatoes, net, nub, nubbin, nucleus, pith, crux, point, root, sum

Related Words

course, direction, drift, tenor; body, content, substance; hypothesis, proposition, purport, subject, theme, thesis

Other Mechanical Engineering Terms

centrifuge, differential, flange, lathe, linchpin, pinion, plenum, ratchet, traction

pivot

adjective

Definition of pivot

1 :turning on or as if on a pivot

2 :pivotal

First Known Use of pivot

1796

pivot

verb

Definition of pivot

intransitive verb

:to turn on or as if on a pivot

transitive verb

1 :to provide with, mount on, or attach by a pivot

2 :to cause to pivot

—

pivotable

play \ˈpi-və-tə-bəl\ adjective

See pivot defined for English-language learners

Examples of pivot in a Sentence

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 of pivot from the Web

But once the pair arrives in Paris, the film sharply pivots.

— peter hartlaub, idahostatesman, "A flying leap into family film inconsistency," 24 Aug. 2017
Barely a breeze greeted us at the Druid replica, certainly not enough to pivot a mammoth blade.

— bill thorness, The Seattle Times, "Maryhill Museum invites you to tango nights in the Gorge," 16 Aug. 2017
The conversation eventually pivoted to race, a topic on which this franchise has a less than stellar record—especially as seen earlier this summer, during Rachel Lindsay’s season of The Bachelorette.

— laura bradley, vanityfair.com, "The More Bachelor in Paradise Tries to Save Face, the Worse It Looks," 16 Aug. 2017
Before, Peraza would pivot his front foot on his toe, twisting his hip inward as the pitch arrived.

— zach buchanan, Cincinnati.com, "The swing tweak that may have fixed Jose Peraza," 10 Aug. 2017
Hue, like the war that pivoted there, continues to haunt some elderly men who live among us.

— george will, National Review, "Diminished Trust in Government Can Be Traced to the Vietnam War," 2 Aug. 2017
Ultimately, the relationship between our two countries pivots on the Kremlin respecting the sanctity of our elections and those of all democratic countries.

— peter savodnik, The Hive, "The Strange Silver Lining in the Trump-Putin Affair," 1 Aug. 2017
In 2017, though, even this is in flux, which suggests that rather than brands looking more like magazines, both business models are pivoting in the same direction.

— emilia petrarca, The Cut, "Should Fashion Brands Run Like Magazines?," 26 July 2017
In the days since Iraq declared victory in Mosul on July 10—even as fighting persisted in pockets of the city—the discussion pivoted toward reconstruction.

— andrew katz, TIME.com, "‘My mind will stay there forever’," 17 July 2017

First Known Use of pivot

1841

pivot Synonyms

Synonyms

turn, revolve, roll, rotate, spin, swing, swirl, swivel, twirl, twist, wheel, whirl

Related Words

screw, unscrew; twiddle; coil, crank, reel, wind; circulate

PIVOT Defined for English Language Learners

pivot

play

noun

Definition of pivot for English Language Learners

: a pin or shaft on which a mechanical part turns
: the action of turning around a point : the action of pivoting
: a person or thing that is central or important to someone or something else

pivot

verb

Definition of pivot for English Language Learners

: to turn on or around a central point

PIVOT Defined for Kids

pivot

play

noun piv·ot \ ˈpi-vət \

Definition of pivot for Students

1 :a shaft or pin with a pointed end on which something turns

2 :the action or an instance of turning around on a point

pivot

verb

Definition of pivot for Students

pivoted; pivoting

:to turn on or as if on a pivot :turn around on a central point

pivot on one foot

Medical Dictionary

pivot

play

noun piv·ot \ ˈpiv-ət \

medical Definition of pivot

:a usually metallic pin holding an artificial crown to the root of a tooth

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pivot

Definition of pivot

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pivot

Definition of pivot

pivotable

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Synonyms

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PIVOT Defined for English Language Learners

pivot

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pivot

Definition of pivot for English Language Learners

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pivot

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pivot

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Medical Dictionary

pivot

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