breakthrough
[breyk-throo]
- a military movement or advance all the way through and beyond an enemy's front-line 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.
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- constituting a breakthrough: engineered with breakthrough technology; Critics called it a breakthrough film.
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Origin of breakthrough
First recorded in 1915–20; noun use of verb phrase break through
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
developmenthikeimprovementleapgainfindingprogressboostdiscoveryincreaseriseinventionfindExamples from the Web for breakthroughs
Contemporary Examples
Like Carver, Borlaug then sought to institutionalize his breakthroughs.
Patents provide a vital protection for innovation and breakthroughs.
But James was often too early to get credit for his breakthroughs.
The book is also filled with stories of breakthroughs that began with a question.
The summit, held this past Tuesday, does not seem to have made any breakthroughs on furthering the peace process.
Historical Examples
Breakthroughs between entries, except as hereinbefore provided, shall be made not exceeding sixty feet apart.
Mining Laws of Ohio, 1921Anonymous
Word Origin and History for breakthroughs
breakthrough
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper