pinpoint

1 of 3

noun

pin·​point ˈpin-ˌpȯint How to pronounce pinpoint (audio)
1
: something that is extremely small or insignificant
2
: the point of a pin
3
: an extremely small or sharp point

pinpoint

2 of 3

adjective

1
: extremely fine or precise
2
: located, fixed, or directed with extreme precision
pinpoint targets
3
: small as a pinpoint

pinpoint

3 of 3

verb

pinpointed; pinpointing; pinpoints

transitive verb

1
: to locate or aim with great precision or accuracy
pinpoint a source
2
a
: to fix, determine, or identify with precision
pinpoint the cause
b
: to cause to stand out conspicuously : highlight

Examples of pinpoint in a Sentence

Adjective The pitcher showed pinpoint control of his fastball. the pinpoint measurement of brain tumors is critically important Verb They were finally able to pinpoint the cause of the fire. He pinpointed the city on the map. Rescuers were able to pinpoint where the lost girl was. The military uses computer imaging to pinpoint targets.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Just a few weeks ago Japan's 'Moon Sniper' rover made a pinpoint landing, making Japan only the fourth nation to successfully soft-land on the moon, joining the U.S, China and the Soviet Union. Jamie Carter, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 Blitzed by an onslaught of pinpoint Morgan Cheli passes, quick McKenna Woliczko layups and relentless defensive pressure from all sides, O’Dowd joined an ever-growing list of programs to be crushed this season by the San Jose private school. Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2024 At first glance, the pinpoints of light shining in the blackness of space look like little stars. Dean Regas, The Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2024 Attacking wise, Dalot’s ability to deliver pinpoint crosses and provide incisive passes from the flanks has been instrumental in unlocking opposition defences. Liam Canning, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 As advertised, the 25-year-old right-hander displayed pinpoint command, pounding batters with fastballs and breaking pitches to either side of the plate. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2024 The cameras catch the women readying for their shoot with pinpoint precision. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 20 Sep. 2023 Below the pregnant belly, a red circle grows from a pinpoint to a prominent orb in each subsequent work. Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2024 Here’s the good news: Japan’s space agency confirmed its historic Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) successfully touched down last week with near pinpoint accuracy. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 25 Jan. 2024
Adjective
Second, the singular nature of Eve is not a quasi-creationist argument for a pinpoint origin of humanity in a unique woman. Stephen Jay Gould, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 Saturday’s maneuver required pinpoint hand-eye coordination, body control and a flourish of power. Phil Thompson, SFChronicle.com, 16 Feb. 2020 Those partnerships would be able to collect more detailed data that could more finely pinpoint actual demand by neighborhoods. BostonGlobe.com, 5 Nov. 2019 Ice pick acne scars are small, narrow, pinpoint acne scars that penetrate deep into the skin, according to Gross. Audrey Noble, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 Jan. 2019 In some cities, like Houston and Dallas, utilities have already undertaken to upgrade their systems with new, digital equipment, allowing repair crews to more precisely pinpoint damage during storms. James Osborne, Houston Chronicle, 8 Feb. 2018
Verb
Perhaps the earlier treatments didn’t reach the nest, but by using sound to pinpoint the location, another treatment might be more successful. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 By pinpointing patterns in vast amounts of data, these systems can learn to recognize words, sounds and images — or even generate them on their own. Cade Metz Balazs Gardi, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Where this understanding came from, Apfel could never quite pinpoint. Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2024 Using a screening method previously used on antibodies for fighting HIV and Covid-19, researchers pored through at least 60 billion artificial human antibodies to pinpoint which grasped onto the three-finger alpha-neurotoxin the tightest. Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 Altogether, Eastin and Abraham pinpointed nine different websites linked to the Polish IT company that appeared to comprise an AI clickbait network. Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 26 Feb. 2024 By scanning and dating the sediments, the scientists were able to pinpoint when the substantial melting began. Laura Paddison, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024 The call dropped more than once, leading dispatchers to pinpoint his coordinates on a map before finding him near Lowell Road, deputies said. Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024 Focus on individual neighborhoods, however, and the process of pinpointing an archetypal character becomes much easier. Spencer Elliott, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pinpoint.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1670, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pinpoint was in 1670

Dictionary Entries Near pinpoint

Cite this Entry

“Pinpoint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinpoint. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pinpoint

1 of 3 noun
pin·​point ˈpin-ˌpȯint How to pronounce pinpoint (audio)
1
: the point of a pin
2
: an extremely small or sharp point
a pinpoint of light in the darkness

pinpoint

2 of 3 verb
: to locate or identify exactly
pinpoint your career interests

pinpoint

3 of 3 adjective
1
: extremely fine or exact
pinpoint accuracy
2
: located, fixed, or directed with great exactness

More from Merriam-Webster on pinpoint

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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