breakthrough

[ breyk-throo ]

/ ˈbreɪkˌθru /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for breakthrough on Thesaurus.com

noun

a military movement or advance all the way through and beyond an enemy's frontline defense.

an act or instance of removing or surpassing an obstruction or restriction; the overcoming of a stalemate: The president reported a breakthrough in the treaty negotiations.

any significant or sudden advance, development, achievement, or increase, as in scientific knowledge or diplomacy, that removes a barrier to progress: The jet engine was a major breakthrough in air transport.

Medicine/Medical. an infection, disease, disorder, or condition that occurs in an individual despite their having received a vaccine, medication, or treatment:Covid breakthroughs are usually less severe than infections in unvaccinated people, indicating that the vaccine is still doing its job of combating the virus.

adjective

constituting a breakthrough: Their products are engineered with breakthrough technology. Critics called it a breakthrough film.

Medicine/Medical. relating to or being an infection, disease, disorder, or condition that occurs as a breakthrough: In the original vaccine trial, 89% of breakthrough infections were with a particular family of virus strains.She experienced disabling breakthrough pain despite the high dose of painkillers she was taking.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of breakthrough

First recorded in 1915–20; noun use of verb phrase break through

Words nearby breakthrough

break the back of, break the bank, break the ice, break the news, break the record, breakthrough, breaktime, breakup, break-up value, breakwater, breakweather

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use breakthrough in a sentence

It takes a level of commitment to breakthrough authentically.
‘A different language’: Why venturing into meme-based marketing can be risky for brands|Kristina Monllos|August 28, 2020|Digiday
At the same time, though, under Cook’s stewardship, Apple has largely failed to come up with breakthrough successors to the iPhone.
Apple CEO Tim Cook is fulfilling another Steve Jobs vision|Rachel Schallom|August 24, 2020|Fortune
Lowe’s made big breakthroughs in the second quarter in markets where it has long lagged Home Depot, most notably the professional contract market and city stores.
How Lowe’s CEO is overhauling its e-commerce to capitalize on the home projects boom|Phil Wahba|August 19, 2020|Fortune
The finding marks a major breakthrough in a search of almost 20 years, carried out in particle physics labs all over the world.
CERN: Physicists Report the Discovery of Unique New Particle|Harry Cliff|July 15, 2020|Singularity Hub

The key to the breakthrough was a two-fold increase in the ground stations’ ability to collect entangled photons.
China Takes Another Step Towards Uncrackable Quantum Communication|Edd Gent|June 15, 2020|Singularity Hub
After 18 months of secret talks, the president announces a diplomatic breakthrough that ends the last fight of the Cold War.
Obama Realizes What 10 Presidents Didn’t: Isolating Cuba Doesn’t Work|Christopher Dickey|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While many today lament that iPhones and iPads have become almost extra limbs, for Hockney they were a breakthrough for his art.
The Many Lives of Artist David Hockney|William O’Connor|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the option of replacing a new diplomatic breakthrough with open-ended diplomatic muddle-through is not on the table.
Iran Nuke Deal: A Matter of War or Peace|Christopher Dickey|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And so, in a lesser-known breakthrough, Edison went on to build the first electrical power station and system.
From Edison to Jobs|The Daily Beast|September 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After all, the 1972 breakthrough with China is a huge moment.
Will the Tapes That Destroyed Nixon Help Rehabilitate His Image?|Scott Porch|August 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nevertheless, the two scientists were jubilant at this first breakthrough.
Tom Swift and The Visitor from Planet X|Victor Appleton
A breakthrough in the use of colour lead to the hey day of romanticism and preparation for neo-impressionism.
The Land of Look Behind|Paul Cameron Brown
Sometimes a major breakthrough is achieved when the leaders are willing to be vulnerable.
Marriage Enrichment Retreats|David Mace
The required air current shall be conducted to the breakthrough nearest the face of such entry or room.
Mining Laws of Ohio, 1921|Anonymous
No person shall place refuse in, or obstruct any airway or breakthrough used as an airway.
Mining Laws of Ohio, 1921|Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for breakthrough

break through

verb

(intr) to penetrate

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

noun breakthrough

a significant development or discovery, esp in science

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with breakthrough