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
Synonyms
Examples of hinge in a Sentence
Verb
the outcome of the game hinged on a single play
Recent Examples on the WebJakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 12 June 2024
The 14-inch laptop can survive bumps and bangs but weighs just 2.86 pounds and has a 180-degree lay-flat hinge.
—Brian Westover, PCMAG, 4 June 2024
Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 11 June 2024
His conviction hinged in part on the testimony of jailhouse informant Quincy Jones, who, as detailed in an Enquirer investigation earlier this year, was a felon who routinely swapped testimony for leniency in his own cases.
—Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for hinge 
Noun
On Tuesday afternoon, a wooden gate outside the house was broken off its hinges and resting on a nearby fence.
—Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 12 June 2024
The 14-inch laptop can survive bumps and bangs but weighs just 2.86 pounds and has a 180-degree lay-flat hinge.
—Brian Westover, PCMAG, 4 June 2024
Verb
The future of Pixar, this year’s box office, and theaters in general may hinge, in part, on the success of movies like Inside Out 2.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 11 June 2024
His conviction hinged in part on the testimony of jailhouse informant Quincy Jones, who, as detailed in an Enquirer investigation earlier this year, was a felon who routinely swapped testimony for leniency in his own cases.
—Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for hinge
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hinge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hinge
Cite this Entry
“Hinge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hinge. Accessed 27 Jun. 2024.
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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