ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pinned

v. · adj.
US //ˈpɪnd// UK //pˈɪnd// pinned
  1. 1 fixed with a pin (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    attached or held in place using a small, sharp piece of metal.

    fastened or attached to a surface using a pin or similar sharp fastener.

    Example

    She pinned the note to the fridge so her roommate would see it.

    Example

    The tailor pinned the hem of the trousers before sewing them to ensure the length was perfectly symmetrical.
  2. 2 held down (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    held someone or something down firmly so they cannot move.

    restrained or immobilized someone by pressing them against a surface.

    Example

    The wrestler pinned his opponent to the mat for three seconds to win.

    Example

    The hikers were pinned beneath the fallen timber for several hours until the rescue team arrived with heavy lifting equipment.
  3. 3 assigned blame or hope (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to place your hopes or the blame for a mistake on a specific person.

    to attribute something, such as blame or expectations, specifically to a person or entity.

    Example

    They pinned the blame for the accident on the new driver.

    Example

    The entire community pinned their hopes on the success of the new medical centre, believing it would revitalise the local economy.

    Usage

    Often used in the phrases 'pinned the blame on' or 'pinned their hopes on'.
  4. 4 having pins (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Technical

    having a specific type or number of pins attached to it.

    characterised by the presence of pins; frequently used in technical or compound descriptions.

    Example

    The machine uses a ten-pinned connector to join the two cables.

    Example

    The engineer specified a multi-pinned interface to ensure the high-speed data transfer remained stable under industrial conditions.

Origin

From pin + -ed.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Idioms1 entry

Last updated June 20, 2026