milestone

[mahyl-stohn]

noun

1. a stone functioning as a milepost.

2. a significant event or stage in the life, progress, development, or the like of a person, nation, etc..

   Her getting the job of supervisor was a milestone in her career.

milestone

/ ˈmaɪlˌstəʊn /

noun

1. a stone pillar that shows the distance in miles to or from a place

2. a significant event in life, history, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of milestone¹

First recorded in 1740–50; mile + stone

Example Sentences

"This is a historic milestone which acknowledges the vital place these languages hold in Scotland's culture and heritage."

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But she is now hitting her developmental milestones.

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This approach is apparent even among those who haven’t yet hit adulthood, with some teens who set up portfolios already saving for financial milestones such as buying a home.

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But for now, here are 10 milestones in the history of the office worker’s wardrobe.

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The Golden Globe nominations, arguably the first major milestone of awards season, will give some indication of which films have momentum when they are announced on 8 December.

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Related Words

• anniversary 
• breakthrough 
• discovery 
• event 
• landmark 
• occasion 
• turning point