YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

pivotal

Adjective

IPA /ˈpɪvətəl/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

Extremely important because it strongly influences how a situation develops or whether an activity or plan succeeds.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

pivotal/ˈpɪvətəl/

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

That conversation was a pivotal moment in our friendship.
Her research played a pivotal role in the project's success.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Complete the example using the word from this lesson.

That conversation was a ________ moment in our friendship.

Show the answer

pivotal — Extremely important because it strongly influences how a situation develops or whether an activity or plan succeeds.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “pivotal” about your own life.

Your sentence (optional)

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

Extremely important because it strongly influences how a situation develops or whether an activity or plan succeeds.

Compare: That conversation was a pivotal moment in our friendship.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

Formed from pivot and the adjective ending -al.

Did you know?

Play a pivotal role means have a very important part in what happens.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.