ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pinpoint

v.
C1 Advanced US //ˈpɪnˌpɔɪnt// UK //pˈɪnpɔɪnt// pin·point

v. to find or describe the exact position or cause of something. You use this when you want to be very specific about a location or a reason.

v. to identify or locate with extreme precision. Often describes the act of discovering the exact cause of a problem or the specific coordinates of a target.


SIMPLE

The mechanic is trying to pinpoint the source of the noise.

CONTEXTUAL

Using satellite data, the rescue team was able to pinpoint the hiker's exact location within minutes.

COMPLEX

Economists have struggled to pinpoint the precise moment the market shifted, as several overlapping factors contributed to the sudden decline in investor confidence.

Synonyms
Origin

From pin + point.

Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

Pitfall

pinpoint to the problempinpoint the problemPinpoint is a transitive verb and does not require a preposition before its object.

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