Meaning & use
pivotal moment
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A short period or event that decides how something important will develop from then on.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a pivotal moment' or 'several pivotal moments'.
Patterns
- a pivotal moment in something
- a pivotal moment for someone
- prove to be a pivotal moment
Signing the contract was a pivotal moment in the company's history.
Her first solo concert turned out to be a pivotal moment for the young singer.
The vote became a pivotal moment in the country's move toward democracy.
Word forms
| plural | pivotal moments |
|---|
Common combinations
- a pivotal moment in history
- The invention of the internet was a pivotal moment in history.
- a pivotal moment for the team
- Winning that game was a pivotal moment for the team.
- reach a pivotal moment
- The negotiations have reached a pivotal moment.
- a pivotal moment in someone's career
- Publishing her first novel was a pivotal moment in her career.
Synonyms and how they differ
- turning point
- Very close in meaning; 'turning point' often suggests a change that could have gone either way.
- critical moment
- Focuses on danger or urgency; 'pivotal moment' focuses on importance for future development.
- milestone
- A significant event or stage, but not necessarily one that changes direction.
Word family
Commonly confused: pivotal moment or practical moment?
pivotal moment vs practical moment
Not a common phrase. 'Practical' means useful or sensible; 'pivotal' means critically important.
Practice
The discovery of penicillin was a pivotal moment ___ modern medicine.
Choose one answer.
'In' is used before a field or period: a pivotal moment in medicine. 'For' would need a person or group (a pivotal moment for doctors), and 'on' and 'at' do not fit this pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pivotal moment”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.