Home Dictionary Ppivotal

Note: The translation for this entry is currently under quality review. Some content is temporarily displayed in English only.

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."

adjective

Depending on or revolving around a central point (pivot).

"The machine uses a pivotal joint to allow for a wide range of motion."

Last Updated: May 22, 2026•Report an Error