: a headed pin or bolt of metal used for uniting two or more pieces by passing the shank through a hole in each piece and then beating or pressing down the plain end so as to make a second head
riveted; riveting; rivets
1
: to fasten with or as if with rivets
2
: to upset the end or point of (something, such as a metallic pin, rod, or bolt) by beating or pressing so as to form a head
3
: to fasten or fix firmly
stood riveted by fright
4
: to attract and hold (something, such as a person's attention) completely
riveter
noun
Examples of rivet in a Sentence
Verb
The iron plates are riveted rather than welded.
everyone riveted their eyes on the trick that the magician was performing on stage
Recent Examples on the Web
Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 6 May 2025
But there were problems with five rivets near where the door plug was installed, and Boeing workers removed the door plug in order to fix those rivets.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 6 Aug. 2024
Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 15 May 2025
Jacob Bernstein joins us to discuss the story that has riveted—and perplexed—Hollywood.
—Air Mail, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rivet
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Noun
This comes just hours after Ortega was spotted wearing a large Hammitt hobo bag with the same gunmetal rivet border for a daytime outing in NYC.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 6 May 2025
But there were problems with five rivets near where the door plug was installed, and Boeing workers removed the door plug in order to fix those rivets.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 6 Aug. 2024
Verb
The lurid case has riveted the public and has already been featured in multiple true crime documentaries.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 15 May 2025
Jacob Bernstein joins us to discuss the story that has riveted—and perplexed—Hollywood.
—Air Mail, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rivet
Cite this Entry
“Rivet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rivet. Accessed 31 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rivet
1 of 2 noun
riv·et
ˈriv-ət 
: a metal bolt with a head at one end used for uniting two or more pieces by passing the shank through a hole in each piece and then beating or pressing down the plain end so as to make a second head
rivet
2 of 2 verb1
: to fasten with or as if with rivets
2
: to attract and hold (as one's attention) completely
riveter
noun
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