pivotal
In modern English, 'pivotal' is most commonly used in a figurative sense to mean 'extremely important.' You will often see it paired with words like 'role,' 'moment,' or 'decision.' While it can describe physical objects that rotate on a pivot, this literal meaning is less frequent in everyday conversation and more common in technical or mechanical descriptions.
💬Casual Conversation
🎬Tuesday afternoon, Chloe is procrastinating on a term paper in the library.
Karen Smith
Did you call that internship lead? This is a pivotal moment for your resume.
Chloe Smith
I'm totally zoning out. I'll do it after this nap.
💡
Karen uses 'pivotal' to emphasize the high stakes of the career opportunity, while Chloe uses the phrasal verb 'zoning out' (losing concentration) to show her typical avoidance and lack of urgency.
Meanings
adjective
Of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else.
"The discovery of penicillin played a pivotal role in the fight against bacterial infections."