: a headed pin or bolt of metal used for uniting two or more pieces by passing the shank through a hole in each piece and then beating or pressing down the plain end so as to make a second head
riveted; riveting; rivets
1
: to fasten with or as if with rivets
2
: to upset the end or point of (something, such as a metallic pin, rod, or bolt) by beating or pressing so as to form a head
3
: to fasten or fix firmly
stood riveted by fright
4
: to attract and hold (something, such as a person's attention) completely
riveter
noun
Synonyms
Examples of rivet in a Sentence
Verb
The iron plates are riveted rather than welded.
everyone riveted their eyes on the trick that the magician was performing on stage
Recent Examples on the Web
Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Due to a missing rivet, the lap belt pretensioner on the left-side front seat belt assembly may be improperly secured.
—USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024
Dealers will either install a rivet plate to reinforce the door latch arms or will provide a replacement door depending on the level of damage.
—Detroit Free Press, 26 Jan. 2024
And Russia, though widely seen as having declined in standing in recent years, has managed to turn the world on its head with its invasion of Ukraine — which has also exposed rivets of discord within Europe and between the West and the Global South.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2023
Typically, engineers programmed robots to perform the same precise motion again and again — like pick up a box of a certain size or attach a rivet in a particular spot on the rear bumper of a car.
—Cade Metz Balazs Gardi, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024
But the reason that the door plug, and the missing bolts, were removed by Boeing was that the fuselage arrived at Boeing’s factory with problems with five rivets that had been done by Spirit AeroSystems.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024
To remedy the issue, dealers will drill through the spot welds and secure the bracket with rivets, free of charge.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024
The pieces of iron are secured by small clasps resembling the rivets that hold the structure together, and the medals’ ribbons are adorned with patterns of the tower’s latticework structure.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024
Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 31 Mar. 2024
The six-week trial riveted the public, compelling thousands to tune in and inspiring Netflix and HBO shows that chronicled the fall of a Deep South legal dynasty.
—Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
Joy Randolph for Best Supporting Actress, Robert Downey Jr. for Best Supporting Actor, and Oppenheimer for Best Picture), I'm riveted by the Best Actress category, which seems to be neck and neck between Emma Stone (Poor Things) and Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon).
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2024
Fans of Frank Herbert’s Dune saga agree: The first book is extraordinary — a planet-hopping hero’s journey with compelling characters, riveting action set-pieces, and clear story and character arcs.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2024
His control keeps us riveted on the traumatic history happening just out of sight.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Instead, the film lasted nearly an hour, and I was riveted the entire time.
—Kayla Michelle Smith, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2024
Twelve jurors and four alternates appeared riveted Thursday by the scenes captured by LeFleur’s lapel camera video, which played on monitors positioned throughout the courtroom — despite several technical glitches that at times interrupted the video.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024
The improbable survival of nearly half the flight's passengers despite brutal conditions and months without traditional food ― survivors sustained themselves by eating the deceased ― has riveted readers and movie fans for decades.
—USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2024
Noun
The rivet wine box bag, with its structural nature and sheer amount of storage space, feels tough enough to withstand a long day in L.A. and is lightweight enough to not drag you down.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Due to a missing rivet, the lap belt pretensioner on the left-side front seat belt assembly may be improperly secured.
—USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024
Dealers will either install a rivet plate to reinforce the door latch arms or will provide a replacement door depending on the level of damage.
—Detroit Free Press, 26 Jan. 2024
And Russia, though widely seen as having declined in standing in recent years, has managed to turn the world on its head with its invasion of Ukraine — which has also exposed rivets of discord within Europe and between the West and the Global South.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2023
Typically, engineers programmed robots to perform the same precise motion again and again — like pick up a box of a certain size or attach a rivet in a particular spot on the rear bumper of a car.
—Cade Metz Balazs Gardi, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024
But the reason that the door plug, and the missing bolts, were removed by Boeing was that the fuselage arrived at Boeing’s factory with problems with five rivets that had been done by Spirit AeroSystems.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024
To remedy the issue, dealers will drill through the spot welds and secure the bracket with rivets, free of charge.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024
The pieces of iron are secured by small clasps resembling the rivets that hold the structure together, and the medals’ ribbons are adorned with patterns of the tower’s latticework structure.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024
Verb
The collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key bridge, dramatically caught by CCTV cameras, is riveting the nation’s attention.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 31 Mar. 2024
The six-week trial riveted the public, compelling thousands to tune in and inspiring Netflix and HBO shows that chronicled the fall of a Deep South legal dynasty.
—Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
Joy Randolph for Best Supporting Actress, Robert Downey Jr. for Best Supporting Actor, and Oppenheimer for Best Picture), I'm riveted by the Best Actress category, which seems to be neck and neck between Emma Stone (Poor Things) and Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon).
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2024
Fans of Frank Herbert’s Dune saga agree: The first book is extraordinary — a planet-hopping hero’s journey with compelling characters, riveting action set-pieces, and clear story and character arcs.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2024
His control keeps us riveted on the traumatic history happening just out of sight.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Instead, the film lasted nearly an hour, and I was riveted the entire time.
—Kayla Michelle Smith, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2024
Twelve jurors and four alternates appeared riveted Thursday by the scenes captured by LeFleur’s lapel camera video, which played on monitors positioned throughout the courtroom — despite several technical glitches that at times interrupted the video.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024
The improbable survival of nearly half the flight's passengers despite brutal conditions and months without traditional food ― survivors sustained themselves by eating the deceased ― has riveted readers and movie fans for decades.
—USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rivet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, clinch on a nail, rivet, from Old French, from river to attach, rivet, probably from rive border, edge, bank, from Latin ripa
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of rivet was
in the 15th century
Articles Related to rivet
Dictionary Entries Near rivet
Cite this Entry
“Rivet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rivet. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
rivet
1 of 2 noun
riv·et
ˈriv-ət 
: a metal bolt with a head at one end used for uniting two or more pieces by passing the shank through a hole in each piece and then beating or pressing down the plain end so as to make a second head
rivet
2 of 2 verb1
: to fasten with or as if with rivets
2
: to attract and hold (as one's attention) completely
riveter
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on rivet
Nglish: Translation of rivet for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of rivet for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rivet
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