adj
Uncommon
pivotal
PIH-vih-tuhl
Pivotal (adj) means Extremely important; central to how something turns out. Example: “Her testimony was pivotal in winning the case.”
adj
1
Extremely important; central to how something turns out.
"Her testimony was pivotal in winning the case."
"The invention of the printing press was a pivotal moment in history."
How to use pivotal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSo important that everything else depends on it.
Common pairings
pivotal role
pivotal moment
pivotal decision
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more pivotal
- Superlative
- most pivotal
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her testimony was _____ in winning the case.
Etymology
From "pivot" plus the adjective suffix "-al" — literally, something a situation turns on.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for pivotal
See all rhymes for pivotal →Frequently asked questions
What does “pivotal” mean?
The word “pivotal” means extremely important; central to how something turns out. In plain terms, so important that everything else depends on it.
How do you pronounce “pivotal”?
“Pivotal” is pronounced PIH-vih-tuhl (/ˈpɪvɪtəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “pivotal” in a sentence?
Here is “pivotal” used in a sentence: “Her testimony was pivotal in winning the case.”
What part of speech is “pivotal”?
“Pivotal” is an adjective.
Is “pivotal” a common word?
“Pivotal” is an uncommon word in modern English.
