the sound barrier
noun
: the large increase in air resistance that occurs as an aircraft nears the speed of sound and that was once an obstacle to traveling faster than the speed of sound
a plane that is able to break the sound barrier
Examples of the sound barrier in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner, the first human to break the sound barrier with his body during a leap from the stratosphere, is dead at 56.
—
Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 18 July 2025
Currently, there are several supersonic passenger jets in development that aim to reach speeds beyond Mach 1 without crashing loudly through the sound barrier.
—Edward Russell, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
The vehicle flew for about half a minute, and, as planned, did not break the sound barrier.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 14 May 2025
Systems measure the current atmospheric conditions to find the right altitude and speed at which aircraft can break the sound barrier without being heard below.
—Marisa Garcia, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
That ban was implemented more than 50 years ago in 1973, over public complaints about the incredibly loud noise made by these planes, which broke the sound barrier while flying at speeds of over 1,500 mph.
—New Atlas, 9 June 2025
The sonic boom is caused by the rocket dropping below supersonic speeds, rather than breaking the sound barrier via acceleration.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025
Not just because passenger planes capable of breaking the sound barrier are in development — for the first time ever, they could be allowed to do it over American soil.
—Edward Russell, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
The vehicle flew for about half a minute and, as planned, did not break the sound barrier.
—ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
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Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 18 July 2025
Currently, there are several supersonic passenger jets in development that aim to reach speeds beyond Mach 1 without crashing loudly through the sound barrier.
—Edward Russell, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
The vehicle flew for about half a minute, and, as planned, did not break the sound barrier.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 14 May 2025
Systems measure the current atmospheric conditions to find the right altitude and speed at which aircraft can break the sound barrier without being heard below.
—Marisa Garcia, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
That ban was implemented more than 50 years ago in 1973, over public complaints about the incredibly loud noise made by these planes, which broke the sound barrier while flying at speeds of over 1,500 mph.
—New Atlas, 9 June 2025
The sonic boom is caused by the rocket dropping below supersonic speeds, rather than breaking the sound barrier via acceleration.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025
Not just because passenger planes capable of breaking the sound barrier are in development — for the first time ever, they could be allowed to do it over American soil.
—Edward Russell, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
The vehicle flew for about half a minute and, as planned, did not break the sound barrier.
—ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“The sound barrier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20sound%20barrier. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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