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
Eli Amdur, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
From Loki to Justin Hammer to Malekith, a superhero film or franchise hinges upon how good the bad guy is.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2025
Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025
This evolution hinges primarily around data—and the ability to access it, integrate it, and take action based on it.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hinge
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Noun
Both the individual and the organization face the same hinge points.
—Eli Amdur, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
From Loki to Justin Hammer to Malekith, a superhero film or franchise hinges upon how good the bad guy is.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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
This evolution hinges primarily around data—and the ability to access it, integrate it, and take action based on it.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 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 29 Apr. 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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