pivotal

adjective

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

Synonyms of pivotal

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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.
Goldhirsh and Bouchon say the payphones project has restored their faith in the country at what feels like a pivotal time. — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, Graham, forced a fumble of Texas star Arch Manning, delivering a pivotal play for a Florida defense ranked last in the SEC entering the day. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Oct. 2026 At the same time, the West Coast with its many military installations is undeniably pivotal to national security. — Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 Jean-Pierre Laffont is a pioneering French-American photojournalist who documented pivotal moments of the 20th century. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 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

Browse Nearby Words

pivot
pivotal
pivotal fault
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Cite this Entry

“Pivotal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pivotal. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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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
-ᵊl-ē How to pronounce pivotal (audio)
adverb
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