milestone

American  

[mahyl-stohn] / ˈmaɪlˌstoʊn /

noun

1. a stone functioning as a milepost.

2. a significant event or stage in the life, progress, development, or the like of a person, nation, etc..

   Her getting the job of supervisor was a milestone in her career.

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milestone British  

/ ˈmaɪlˌstəʊn /

noun

1. a stone pillar that shows the distance in miles to or from a place

2. a significant event in life, history, etc

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Etymology

Origin of milestone

First recorded in 1740–50; mile + stone

Example Sentences

The awards are a major milestone of the film awards season, taking place less than a fortnight before the Academy Award nominations on 22 January.

From BBC

And in April, eight Socorro dove chicks hatched at the zoo, marking a milestone in efforts to save the species from extinction.

From BBC

"The traditional brown envelope moment is still an important milestone for students, it's a chance to see friends, celebrate together, and connect with staff," Pettman told the BBC.

From BBC

Neven holds up Willow, Google's latest Quantum chip, which has delivered two important milestones.

From BBC

Tesla shareholders in November approved giving Chief Executive Elon Musk $1 trillion in Tesla stock if he hits certain milestones over the next decade.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• anniversary
• breakthrough
• discovery
• event
• landmark
• occasion
• turning point