as in rotating
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis
the telescope is mounted on a tripod so you can easily pivot it for viewing in any direction
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Recent Examples of pivoting
To understand why Southeast Asia is pivoting, look 3,000 miles north.
—
Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Originally an aspiring cartoonist, Sedelmaier launched his ad career as an art director before pivoting to directing.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Providers have other highly effective pharmacological methods with which to terminate a pregnancy — although pivoting to any of these methods will have significant implications for patients.
—Christine Henneberg, STAT, 15 May 2026
Testing, learning, and then pivoting hard Licht, who joined Reckitt in 2019 after working for McKinsey and PepsiCo, has overseen a much broader restructuring since becoming CEO in 2023.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 8 May 2026
The changes largely reflected the direction of the automotive industry, which was pivoting towards electrification and greater environmental awareness.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Upon returning to the United States, Teddy briefly worked at CMT and TBS as a sales executive before pivoting to focus his career on his love of sailing.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
Meanwhile, at least one country is pivoting away from digital resources by reintroducing physical books and having students return to using pen and paper.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 4 May 2026
But for researchers, Young said, the most important moment will be pivoting from looking at individual features to filtering those views through the top 10 science priorities for the mission.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Originally an aspiring cartoonist, Sedelmaier launched his ad career as an art director before pivoting to directing.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Providers have other highly effective pharmacological methods with which to terminate a pregnancy — although pivoting to any of these methods will have significant implications for patients.
—Christine Henneberg, STAT, 15 May 2026
Testing, learning, and then pivoting hard Licht, who joined Reckitt in 2019 after working for McKinsey and PepsiCo, has overseen a much broader restructuring since becoming CEO in 2023.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 8 May 2026
The changes largely reflected the direction of the automotive industry, which was pivoting towards electrification and greater environmental awareness.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Upon returning to the United States, Teddy briefly worked at CMT and TBS as a sales executive before pivoting to focus his career on his love of sailing.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
Meanwhile, at least one country is pivoting away from digital resources by reintroducing physical books and having students return to using pen and paper.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 4 May 2026
But for researchers, Young said, the most important moment will be pivoting from looking at individual features to filtering those views through the top 10 science priorities for the mission.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pivoting
Verb
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The third-year students spent nearly a year developing and refining the engine, which runs through continuous rotating explosions in a circular chamber.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
18 May 2026
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The worst of the severe weather is expected west and northwest of the Kansas City metro, where supercells (large, rotating thunderstorms) capable of producing hail and strong to intense tornadoes are most likely from central Kansas and southeast Nebraska into Iowa and northwest Missouri.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
18 May 2026
Verb
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The roughly 4,800-square-foot home is wrapped in expansive windows overlooking the lake and mountains beyond, turning the landscape into a constantly changing backdrop.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
13 May 2026
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Another way to decorate your privacy fence is by turning it into a full-on plant wall.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Hundreds of thousands of deliveries, all landing on his front leg while twisting his torso, had taken a toll on his right hip that three surgeries could not repair.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
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Gutierrez recommended twisting the barrel adjuster next to the brake handles counter-clockwise and tightening the neighboring stopper bolt, which will increase tension with the tire’s brake cable.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Stephens never plays a mustache-twirling sadist, instead carrying himself with the unbearable confidence of a man truly convinced that his version of abuse and even murder is civilized.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
17 May 2026
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Emmet Sheehan turned in perhaps his best start of the season Thursday, twirling six innings against the San Francisco Giants.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Verb
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During a recent experience, the eight mini games ranged from trivia to stacking foam blocks and from Nerf dart shooting to spinning a giant wheel for points.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
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This setup would let researchers detect minute differences in the isotopes’ energy levels by examining nuances in the magnetic field created by each particle’s spinning nucleus, called the nuclear magnetic moment.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pivoting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pivoting. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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