groundbreaking

[ground-brey-king]

See more synonyms for groundbreaking on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act or ceremony of breaking ground for a new construction project.

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adjective

of or relating to such a ceremony.
originating or pioneering a new endeavor, field of inquiry, or the like: Pasteur's groundbreaking work in bacteriology.

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Origin of groundbreaking

First recorded in 1905–10; ground¹ + break + -ing¹, -ing²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

revolutionary, innovative, radical, avant-garde, spearheading, trailblazing, trendsetting

Examples from the Web for groundbreaking

Contemporary Examples

It marked a groundbreaking moment in how the country viewed Jews, especially Jewish women.
Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America?
Emily Shire
January 7, 2015
She is groundbreaking on the problem of methane leaks in natural-gas fracking, an exception that swallows the rule.
Naomi Klein’s ‘This Changes Everything’ Will Change Nothing
Michael Signer
November 17, 2014
The lab has amassed over 60,000 DNA samples and pioneered some groundbreaking scientific advances.
America's Anti-Poaching Private Eyes
Caitlin Dickson
September 5, 2014
In 1988, N.W.A. released their groundbreaking record Straight Outta Compton.
A Brief History of the Phrase 'F*ck the Police'
Rich Goldstein
August 23, 2014
Modern Family has always been a groundbreaking television show.
What's TV's Funniest Show? Our Emmy Awards Comedy Predictions
Kevin Fallon
August 21, 2014

Historical Examples

This was a time of many innovations and groundbreaking scientific theories.
The Civilization of Illiteracy
Mihai Nadin

Word Origin and History for groundbreaking

adj.

1907 as a figurative adjective, from expression to break ground, either for planting or for building; see ground (n.) + break (v.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper