pivotal

adjective

piv·​ot·​al ˈpi-və-tᵊl How to pronounce pivotal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or constituting a pivot
2
: vitally important : critical
pivotally adverb

Examples of pivotal in a Sentence

She is at a pivotal point in her career. the report was missing a pivotal piece of information
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Let’s run through the five most pivotal role players for this season. Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 The two games in Macao were a pivotal step in repairing the relationship with the NBA’s second-biggest market. Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025 Formula 1 is at such a pivotal moment culturally. Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025 The doc will include footage Michél shot on his phone during pivotal moments in the saga, like a meeting in China with a top CCP official who was sentenced to death by the Chinese government in 2022 for taking bribes. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pivotal

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of pivotal was in 1838

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pivotal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pivotal. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

pivotal

adjective
piv·​ot·​al ˈpiv-ət-ᵊl How to pronounce pivotal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or functioning as a pivot
2
: extremely important : critical
a pivotal discovery
pivotally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on pivotal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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