record-breaking

American  

[rek-erd-bray-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

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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

Europe, the world's fastest-warming continent, faced record-breaking temperatures, droughts and wildfires over the summer that caused tens of thousands of excess deaths.

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026

Months of record-breaking heat and dry conditions sparked a wave of wildfires across the UK through spring and summer.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026

The people who own corporations are now capturing a record-breaking, previously unimaginable share of U.S. economic output.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 1, 2026

But the record-breaking tides this week took even Sharp by surprise.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026

But the women who’d made the record-breaking flight in the Rodina weren’t just dazzling celebrities: they were also safe role models.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

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