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.
Opening arguments are set to kick off Tuesday in a pivotal trial for Meta Platforms in a California federal court. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 Opening statements kicked off Tuesday in a pivotal trial for Meta Platforms in a California federal court, where states are seeking billions of dollars in damages for social media harms to children. — CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 Ultimately, every performance review conversation is a pivotal moment of connection that sets the tone for your team's culture. — Luciana Paulise, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Ten years ago, only a small group of people were arguing that the Pentagon needed to make such a transformation, or that Silicon Valley’s commercial technology was pivotal for military power. — Doug Beck, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 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 21 Aug. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on pivotal

Nglish: Translation of pivotal for Spanish Speakers

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