break ground
Idioms-
Also, break new ground.
-
Begin digging into the earth for new construction of some kind. For example, When will they break ground for the town hall? This usage alludes to breaking up the land with a plow. [Early 1700s]
-
Take the first steps for a new venture; advance beyond previous achievements. For example, Jeff is breaking new ground in intellectual property law . [Early 1700s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The company expects to break ground on new developments worth between $4 billion and $5 billion this year, with data centers accounting for approximately 40% of the projected value.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026
The company plans to break ground on a sprawling $1-billion campus near the Long Beach Airport by midyear.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026
Smithfield plans to formally break ground on construction in the first half of 2027 and begin production at the end of 2028.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026
Lawmakers know that most of these sites break ground long before the public even hears about them.
From Salon • Dec. 28, 2025
He would watch my beans break ground and spread, and would notice with pleasure their pods growing plump.
From "Seedfolks" by Paul Fleischman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
