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
Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 19 May 2026
There are no cellphones, the soundtrack is peppered with tunes from the era and a major plot point hinges on the family getting an answering machine.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 19 May 2026
Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 14 May 2026
Both movies hinge on transgressive acts of voyeurism, but this one, which more self-consciously explores how the world can be shaped by the mere act of watching it, struggles to find anything of interest to show us.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hinge
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Noun
The design required the production team to bring a broad range of understandings, everything from electromagnetism, solenoid latches, lever arm weight multiplication, spring hinges, DMX triggers, foam fabrication, and sculpture.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 19 May 2026
There are no cellphones, the soundtrack is peppered with tunes from the era and a major plot point hinges on the family getting an answering machine.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 19 May 2026
Verb
That will hinge on whether senators can strike an 11th-hour deal with the White House on ethics language, which would restrict the administration’s ability to profit off crypto.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 14 May 2026
Both movies hinge on transgressive acts of voyeurism, but this one, which more self-consciously explores how the world can be shaped by the mere act of watching it, struggles to find anything of interest to show us.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hinge
Cite this Entry
“Hinge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hinge. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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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