pivotal

adjective

piv·​ot·​al ˈpi-və-tᵊl How to pronounce pivotal (audio)
Synonyms of pivotalnext
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.
The Mets’ continual snub of Hall of Famer Carter, a pivotal player in the team’s history as the first building block of the 1986 championship club, is both mystifying and downright embarrassing. Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 14 Mar. 2026 Though the mariachi ensemble didn’t play on the official recording — Mars’ band, The Hooligans, handled the studio production — the group played a pivotal role in shaping the visuals that have already captivated nearly 34 millions of viewers on YouTube, since its’ two-week release. Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2026 For the first two seasons, Labrinth has played a pivotal role in the show’s music, soundtracking some of the most emotional moments and creating a sonic identity for the series. Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2026 The point wasn’t anywhere near as pivotal as the 26-shot rally which Draper lost in the first game of the third set that turned his match against Djokovic Wednesday; Medvedev was well in control by then. Ava Wallace, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Pivotal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pivotal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.

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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