Illustration of hinge
- hinge 1a
1
a
: a jointed or flexible device on which a door, lid, or other swinging part turns
b
: a flexible ligamentous joint
c
: a small piece of thin gummed paper used in fastening a postage stamp in an album
2
: a determining factor : turning point
hinged; hinging
1
: to swing on or as if on a hinge
These thoughtful amenities include … an outdoor patio TV that hinges outward toward the pool …—
Paul Takahashi
Paul Takahashi… we pulled within feet of a 12-foot crocodile, his huge jaw hinging open in warning to reveal a toothy grin.—Andrea Bartz
Andrea Bartz2
: to be contingent on a single consideration or point
—used with on or upon
the prosecution's case hinges on the DNA evidence
: to attach by or furnish with hinges
Examples of hinge in a Sentence
Verb
the outcome of the game hinged on a single play
Recent Examples on the Web
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Walmart has affordable door pulls, Lowe’s has durable door hinges and Home Depot has bolt latches.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 1 May 2025
Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2025
About 20 women, many of whom looked like aspiring actors, knelt on the numbered panels, while hinging at the waist and pulling a cable to execute a tricep press.
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hinge
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Noun
Yet there remains a contrasting argument from some observers, who state that if Villa Park’s expansion hinges so greatly on Witton Station — as the club outlines in its statement — Villa could contribute towards some of the funding.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Walmart has affordable door pulls, Lowe’s has durable door hinges and Home Depot has bolt latches.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 1 May 2025
Verb
By all accounts, offseason trade machinations didn’t hinge solely on Podziemski.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2025
About 20 women, many of whom looked like aspiring actors, knelt on the numbered panels, while hinging at the waist and pulling a cable to execute a tricep press.
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hinge
Cite this Entry
“Hinge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hinge. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hinge
1 of 2 noun1
: a jointed piece on which a door, lid, or other swinging part turns
2
: the joint between valves of a bivalve's shell
hinge
2 of 2 verb
hinged; hinging
1
: to attach by or provide with hinges
2
: to hang or turn as if on a hinge : depend
our success hinges on this decision
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