English Meaning & Definitions
A central point, pin, or shaft on which a mechanism turns or oscillates.
- “The gate swings on a central pivot.”
- “The success of the project was the pivot upon which the entire company's future turned.”
To turn on or as if on a central point or axis; to change direction or strategy significantly.
- “She pivoted on her heel and walked out of the room.”
- “The startup had to pivot its business model after the initial product failed to gain traction.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “pivot”.
Derived from the Middle French 'pivot', meaning a hinge or pin on which something turns. Its origins are likely linked to the Old French 'pivoter' and potentially the Latin 'pipa' (a pipe or tube), referring to the cylindrical shape of the pin or axis.
Think of a basketball player 'pivoting' on one foot to turn around; the foot acts as the pin (pivot) for the body.
Frequently Asked Questions About “pivot”
1. What is the meaning of “pivot” in English?
In English, pivot (noun) is defined as: “A central point, pin, or shaft on which a mechanism turns or oscillates.”.
2. How do you use “pivot” in a sentence?
“The gate swings on a central pivot.”
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “pivot”?
Derived from the Middle French 'pivot', meaning a hinge or pin on which something turns. Its origins are likely linked to the Old French 'pivoter' and potentially the Latin 'pipa' (a pipe or tube), referring to the cylindrical shape of the pin or axis.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →A measurement of time indicating an instantaneous occurrence or a state where no time has elapsed.
The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.