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tipping point
/ˈtɪpɪŋ pɔɪnt/
critical threshold
The new social media campaign reached a tipping point when it went viral.
The campaign became widely popular and influential.
formal
A point at which a series of small changes or incidents becomes significant enough to cause a large, often unstoppable, effect.
The study found that 30% adoption of a new behavior is often the tipping point for widespread change.
Once 30% of a population adopts a behavior, it often spreads rapidly.
Popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in his 2000 book *The Tipping Point*.
Business
Business
A moment when a business or product gains rapid and irreversible growth.
The app hit its tipping point after being featured in a major tech review.
The app's popularity surged after positive media coverage.
Often used in marketing and entrepreneurship contexts.
Collocations
reach a tipping pointto reach a critical thresholdpast the tipping pointbeyond the point of no return
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
Use 'tipping point' for gradual changes that suddenly become significant, not for sudden events.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
Reserve 'tipping point' for truly pivotal moments, not minor changes.
Word Origin
From the verb 'tip' (to tilt) and 'point' (a specific moment). Popularized in social science and business literature.
Usage Notes
Often used metaphorically to describe rapid, irreversible change in social, business, or environmental contexts.
Word Breakdown
tipping
causing a shift or imbalance
verbpoint
a specific moment or threshold
nounEnglish Dictionary