what is a watershed moment

A watershed moment is a turning point, a moment that changes the direction of an activity or situation. The term "watershed" originally referred to a geographical term describing the area from which water sources drain into a single river or a ridge, like that formed by a chain of mountains, which sends water to two different rivers on either side. From that, watershed came to mean a turning point or dividing line in life. The figurative sense of watershed came into use in the mid-1800s, and watershed moment came into use around the turn of the twentieth century. A watershed moment is often recognized in hindsight and is considered momentous.