pivot
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to turn your body or an object while staying in one place.
v.to rotate or turn on or as if on a central point. Intransitive use is common in physical descriptions.
Simple“The dancer had to pivot on one foot to face the back of the stage.”
In context“The heavy telescope is designed to pivot smoothly on its base, allowing astronomers to track celestial bodies across the night sky with minimal effort.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to quickly change your plans or way of doing things, especially in business.
v.to fundamentally change the direction or strategy of a business or project in response to market feedback or new data.
Simple“The company decided to pivot to online sales after their physical shops closed.”
In context“Recognising that their original software was too complex for the average user, the startup decided to pivot toward a simplified mobile-first interface.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'to' or 'away from'.
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.a pin or point that something turns on.
n.a short shaft or pin on which something turns or oscillates.
Simple“The gate was heavy, so the metal pivot at the bottom had to be very strong.”
In context“The engineer inspected the central pivot of the bridge, ensuring that the rotational mechanism remained free of corrosion and debris.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
n.the most important person or thing that a situation depends on.
n.a person or thing on which something else depends or turns; a central or crucial factor.
Simple“The young midfielder became the pivot of the team's entire attacking strategy.”
In context“The trade agreement served as the pivot for the region's economic recovery, providing the stability necessary for long-term foreign investment.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
n.a change in what a politician says to appeal to more voters.
n.a strategic shift in a political candidate's messaging, typically toward the centre, during a general election campaign.
Simple“After the primary, the candidate made a pivot to talk more about the economy.”
In context“Political analysts noted the senator's subtle pivot toward moderate voters in the final weeks before the general election.”
Synonyms
“This has been the year that podcasting properly, unapologetically “ pivoted to video ”.”
“Pivoting toward the United States, while also continuing to try and expand trade with Europe, Asia, and South America, would have been the wise move.”
From Middle English pevet, *pivot, from Old French pivot (“hinge pin, pivot”) (12th c.), possibly from Latin pūgiō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.