break through

British  

verb

1. (intr) to penetrate

2. (intr, adverb) to achieve success, make a discovery, etc, esp after lengthy efforts

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noun

1. a significant development or discovery, esp in science

2. the penetration of an enemy's defensive position or line in depth and strength

break through Idioms  

1. Penetrate a barrier or obstruction, as in They broke through the wall to get into the vault, or It won't be long before we break through the code and map all human genes. Used literally for going through a physical barrier since about 1400, this phrase began to be used figuratively in the late 1500s.

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Example Sentences

His goals for Guadalajara in their run to the title play-off round semi-final of Liga MX saw him break through to the national side.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

Still, candidates struggled for months to break through to voters.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

These are generally about other people, or being embedded in the band, and rays of light are allowed to break through, if sometimes tentatively.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

Whatever the case, the fact that he continues to struggle to break through while many far lesser talents succeed says something about both the industry and our culture at large.

From Salon • May 15, 2026

Matthias felt the sword of Martin break through the stone.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

Related Words

• arrive
• come
• come out
• crop up
• develop
• emerge
• materialize
• occur
• pop up
• present
• show
• show up
• surface
• turn out
• turn up