record-breaking

American  

[rek-erd-brey-king] / ˈrɛk ərdˌbreɪ kɪŋ /

adjective

1. so great, successful, numerous, extreme, etc., as to surpass all previous records.

   We had a record-breaking fundraising drive this year.

   He scored a record-breaking 97 goals in a single season.

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Etymology

Origin of record-breaking

First recorded in 1880–85

Explanation

A record-breaking achievement is better than any previous attempt by anyone, or at least better than any officially documented one. If you solve the Rubik's Cube faster than the fastest solver, that would be a record-breaking feat! When someone sets a record, they accomplish something that hasn't ever been topped: no one has run faster, or eaten more hot dogs, or lived longer. There are also records for things like the hottest day, fattest bear, and most powerful telescope. Eventually, nearly every record gets broken, and the event that does it is record-breaking. So if you practice every day, maybe you can one day be a record-breaking Rubik's Cube solver — but you'll probably have to do it in less than three seconds!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

record-breaking

Harry Styles bought coffees for all of the visitors to his "favourite" London coffee shop to celebrate the extension of his record-breaking Together, Together tour.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

The AI giant was expected to stage a record-breaking IPO in October, according to people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

After its premiere at the Venice Film Festival last week, "NAZA" received a record-breaking 25-minute ovation and later won the special jury prize.

From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026

Beyond consumers’ borrowing costs, their energy prices are rising, led by record-breaking prices on diesel fuel, as conflicts in Iran and Ukraine continue.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026

I’m starting to wonder if I’m not cut out for record-breaking after all.

From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan