breakthrough

American  

[breyk-throo] / ˈbreɪkˌθru /

noun

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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

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adjective

1. constituting a breakthrough: Critics called it a breakthrough film.

   Their products are engineered with breakthrough technology.

   Critics called it a breakthrough film.

2. Medicine/Medical. relating to or being an infection, disease, disorder, or condition that occurs as a breakthrough: She experienced disabling breakthrough pain despite the high dose of painkillers she was taking.

   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.

Etymology

Origin of breakthrough

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

Example Sentences

Their breakthrough arrives with a performance of Temple Maiden, a dance tracing the love and envy of two maidens who turn into serpents.

From Los Angeles Times

Along the way, Jean has consistently championed emerging talent, helping introduce Beyoncé to the world with Destiny’s Child’s breakthrough single “No, No, No,” and co-writing and appearing on Shakira’s global smash “Hips Don’t Lie.”

From Los Angeles Times

Here’s the kicker: The FDA in October awarded Disc’s drug a Commissioner’s National Priority voucher, a program established by Dr. Makary with the goal of fast-tracking breakthrough treatments.

From The Wall Street Journal

This breakthrough lays the foundation for developing new materials and chemical processes with potential industrial applications.

From Science Daily

Despite several rounds of US-brokered talks involving Russian and Ukrainian delegations, a breakthrough still appears far off.

From BBC

Related Words

• boost
• development
• discovery
• finding
• gain
• hike
• improvement
• leap
• progress