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
John Liu, CNN, 21 Feb. 2025
King studied the movement of ventriloquist dummies to get his jaw hinges just right.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
April Rubin, Axios, 25 Jan. 2025
Lebanon is facing diplomatic pressure by the United States and other foreign donors who have hinged postwar financial support on the election of a president.
—Euan Ward, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hinge
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Noun
The world’s first commercial trifold phone, which folds around two hinges and expands like a tablet, was first launched at home in China in September, just hours after Apple introduced its iPhone 16.
—John Liu, CNN, 21 Feb. 2025
King studied the movement of ventriloquist dummies to get his jaw hinges just right.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
Verb
Ireland in 2004 ended unrestricted birthright citizenship after 79% of voters supported a constitutional amendment that hinges citizenship on parents' residence and history.
—April Rubin, Axios, 25 Jan. 2025
Lebanon is facing diplomatic pressure by the United States and other foreign donors who have hinged postwar financial support on the election of a president.
—Euan Ward, New York Times, 8 Jan. 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 4 Mar. 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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