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
New Atlas, 15 Sep. 2025
Hold the cat between your legs, place one hand on the cat’s head, in front of the ears, and gently squeeze at the jaw hinges.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025
Rhett Power, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Both sections are hinged together, which means that projection angles can be adjusted over 90 degrees without need to employ a gimbal stand – giving it a toy-like vibe that's sure to be a talking point at setup time.
—New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hinge
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Noun
Instead, the Devon fossil had only the last of these traits, lacking both palate teeth and a skull hinge.
—New Atlas, 15 Sep. 2025
Hold the cat between your legs, place one hand on the cat’s head, in front of the ears, and gently squeeze at the jaw hinges.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
Usable support doesn’t hinge merely on access, but accessibility.
—Rhett Power, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Both sections are hinged together, which means that projection angles can be adjusted over 90 degrees without need to employ a gimbal stand – giving it a toy-like vibe that's sure to be a talking point at setup time.
—New Atlas, 10 Sep. 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 18 Sep. 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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