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
Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
The inner screen is slightly bigger too, at 6.9 inches, and the hinge feels sturdier and more seamless.
—Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 9 July 2025
Joseph Krauss, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Another potential wild card: The Trump administration There are at least three major issues that hinge greatly on federal policy that Braun may have to contend with during his first term: immigration, energy policy and Medicaid.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hinge
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Noun
The first, rather vacuous season hinges in part on whether the Russells’ neighbor—the huffy, old-money Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski)—will ever cross Sixty-first Street to visit.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
The inner screen is slightly bigger too, at 6.9 inches, and the hinge feels sturdier and more seamless.
—Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 9 July 2025
Verb
Despite Trump throwing his weight behind a push for a 60-day truce between Israel and Hamas, no breakthrough was announced during Netanyahu’s visit, a disappointment for a president who wants to be known as a peacemaker and has hinged his reputation on being a dealmaker.
—Joseph Krauss, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Another potential wild card: The Trump administration There are at least three major issues that hinge greatly on federal policy that Braun may have to contend with during his first term: immigration, energy policy and Medicaid.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 2 July 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 21 Jul. 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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