pivot
Americannoun
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a pin, point, or short shaft on the end of which something rests and turns, or upon and about which something rotates or oscillates.
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the end of a shaft or arbor, resting and turning in a bearing.
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any thing or person on which something or someone functions or depends vitally.
He is the pivot of my life.
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the person in a line, as of troops on parade, whom the others use as a point about which to wheel or maneuver.
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a whirling about on one foot.
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a change in policy, opinion, product design, etc., that retains some continuity with its previous version, especially as part of a strategy to appeal to a different audience: the administration’s pivot toward Asia;
a pivot in public policy;
the administration’s pivot toward Asia;
multiple product pivots to reach new consumers.
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Basketball. the act of keeping one foot in place while holding the ball and moving the other foot one step in any direction, so as not to be charged with traveling.
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Basketball.
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an offensive position in the front court, usually played by the center, in which the player stands facing away from the offensive basket and serves as the pivot of the offense by setting up plays through passing, making screens, and taking shots.
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Also called pivotman. the player who plays in the pivot position.
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Dentistry. (formerly) dowel.
verb (used without object)
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to turn on or as on a pivot.
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Basketball. to keep one foot in place while holding the ball and moving the other foot one step in any direction.
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to modify a policy, opinion, product, etc., while retaining some continuity with its previous version, especially as part of a strategy to appeal to a different audience: The studio pivoted away from gritty realism to make the film’s sequel more family-friendly.
The candidate will need to pivot on her unpopular position regarding prescription drug pricing.
The studio pivoted away from gritty realism to make the film’s sequel more family-friendly.
verb (used with object)
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to mount on, attach by, or provide with a pivot or pivots.
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to modify (a policy, opinion, product, etc.) while retaining some continuity with its previous version.
The start-up was able to pivot the app to a new market without losing too many man-hours of coding.
noun
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a short shaft or pin supporting something that turns; fulcrum
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the end of a shaft or arbor that terminates in a bearing
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a person or thing upon which progress, success, etc, depends
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the person or position from which a military formation takes its reference, as when altering position
verb
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(tr) to mount on or provide with a pivot or pivots
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(intr) to turn on or as if on a pivot
Other Word Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have pivotedperfect
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has pivotedperfect 3rd person singular
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have been pivotingperfect progressive
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is pivotingprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been pivotingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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are pivotingprogressive
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am pivotingprogressive 1st person singular
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pivotssingular 3rd person
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pivotingparticiple
Past
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had pivotedperfect
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was pivotingprogressive singular
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were pivotingprogressive plural
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had been pivotingperfect progressive
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pivotedparticiple
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pivotedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of pivot
First recorded in 1350–1400; < French, Middle French, Old French “hinge, pivot”; further origin uncertain, perhaps related to Catalan piu, Occitan pivèu “spindle, pivot,” and Provençal pua “tooth on a heckle (flax comb)”
Explanation
To pivot is to turn or rotate, like a hinge. Or a basketball player pivoting back and forth on one foot to protect the ball. When you're not talking about a type of swiveling movement, you can use pivot to mean the one central thing that something depends upon. The central pivot of your student government campaign, for example, might be longer recess time. Or your plans to go to the beach this weekend could pivot upon whether it rains, as the weather channel has predicted, or gets surprisingly sunny.
Vocabulary lists containing pivot
Vocabulary from the Third and Final Presidential Debate, October 19, 2016
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Force and Motion (Mechanics) - Middle School
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Force and Motion (Mechanics) - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the mid-1990s, after a period of dwindling ratings and deteriorating cultural relevance, the WWF embarked on a radical brand pivot.
From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026
Tesla has made an overt pivot toward AI, namely humanoid robots and autonomous vehicles, and that transformation now consumes investors’ attention.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026
Their first year in leadership positions was supposed to ease them into the transition, but the pandemic forced them to pivot.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
Shares cleared a $13.11 double-bottom pivot on January 21, followed by the formation of a bull flag.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
There was a prescribed way to turn corners: You had to pivot on the ball of your inside foot, not interrupting your stride.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
