inflection point
4
7.5
- noun
- /ɪnˈflɛkʃən pɔɪnt/
:
punto de inflexión
- Her decision to pursue further education was an inflection point in her career.
This episode is like one of those inflection points in my history on Mythbusters.
- This episode is like one of those inflection points in my history on Mythbusters.
- But when YouTube got the partner program and started revenue sharing that inflection point changed YouTube forever.
- And how do I create an inflection point?
- And so you can see this kind of inflection point throughout the adoption of Bitcoin, right?
- Potentially life defining inflection point of sorts.
- And if not, what do we need to do to make it an inflection point?
- So it means that at least one other civilization got past the inflection point.
- And then it just kicks up and it hits a, hits a, a inflection point, right?
- Because again, there comes a point in time where it's a very predictable turning point, inflection point.
Examples
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And this is really the inflection point for everything that follows.
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2005 was clearly an inflection point, since global crude oil (C+C) production effectively stopped increasing.
Blog text (6) -
What was the inflection point that caused you to finally talk to somebody?
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You know, what was sort of the inflection point for you that caused you to go all in on this?
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Were there any particular inflection points or experiences that set you on the path that led you to where you are?
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And I actually think we're at that inflection point this coming year, 2024.
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Last week marked a major inflection point in the war in Afghanistan.
Blog text (2) -
In short, we are at an inflection point, a point where the curve starts to bend a lot because of computers.
Academic text (2015) -
We are at a critical inflection point for what's happening to orchestras.
Blog text (5) -
Promoboxx has likely hit an inflection point in its evolution.
Blog text (12)
Synonyms
118
4.2
The point when something begins or changes into a new state
104
3.7
A moment when an important event changes what happens next
43
5.3
A moment when a small event causes a big, lasting change
16
6.3
A point in time when something is about to change
9
5.3
A moment when people must make an important decision
6
6.3
An event that causes a very important change in a person's life or history
2
4.9
A moment when an important change happens or people make a key decision
A time when an important change happens in a story or process
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
inflection + point
The compound meaning is directly built from 'inflection' (a change in curvature or direction) + 'point' (a specific moment or stage), so a learner who knows those constituent senses can infer a 'turning point' or moment of significant change. The metaphorical mapping is regular and exists in many languages (e.g., Spanish punto de inflexión, French point d'inflexion), making the composition readily comprehensible rather than idiomatic.
Etymology
Inflection point comes from math, where a curve bends and changes direction at a single point called an inflection. So, it means a moment when a situation reaches a 'turning point' or makes a big change.