A watershed moment is a significant and pivotal point in time or an event that marks a turning point in a situation, a period, or a person's life. It is a critical moment that has a profound impact on the course of events, often leading to important changes or decisions.

For instance, imagine a company struggling with financial difficulties and a declining reputation due to mismanagement. The appointment of a new, visionary CEO who implements successful strategies and leads the company to financial recovery can be seen as a watershed moment for the organization. It marks the turning point from a period of decline to one of growth and success.

A watershed moment can be used in various contexts, whether in personal life, history, science, or in a corporate setting. The term is particularly commonly used in historical turning points and scientific breakthroughs.

Example sentences

  1. The signing of the peace treaty was a watershed moment in the history of the two warring nations.
  2. Her graduation from college marked a personal watershed moment, as she transitioned into the professional world.
  3. The introduction of the smartphone was a watershed moment in the evolution of communication technology.
  4. The discovery of antibiotics in the early 20th century was a watershed moment in medicine.
  5. The civil rights movement in the 1960s represented a watershed moment in the struggle for equality.
  6. Winning the championship was a watershed moment for the team, marking their first major victory in years.
  7. The invention of the Internet brought about a watershed moment in the way information is accessed and shared.
  8. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was a watershed moment in the reunification of Germany.
  9. The CEO's resignation and subsequent changes in corporate leadership were a watershed moment for the troubled company.
  10. The scientific breakthrough had the potential to be a watershed moment in the field of renewable energy.

Want to sound like a native speaker?

Engram’s AI-powered grammar checker makes your English sound like a native speaker’s, suggesting natural English expressions on top of fixing grammar, spelling, punctuation, word order, and vocabulary.

Free Grammar Checker
Check your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and word usage errors with Engram’s free online grammar checker using AI

Reference:

Watershed moment
The idiom watershed moment came into use in the mid-1800s. We will examine the meaning of the expression watershed moment, where it came from and some examples of its use in sentences. A watershed moment